tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66034151759645959812024-03-14T03:49:24.795-07:00Solent to the South PacificAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-10590339693547285032012-11-27T17:55:00.001-08:002012-11-27T17:55:22.361-08:00Setting off to Jamaica! We are currently anchored in the San Blas islands after checking out of Panama this morning. Looks like we have our weather window although it will be a bit bumpy for the first day. We spent the day getting the boat ready and food prepared for the journey. Probably the most prepared we have been, for a trip.<br/><br/>All going well we should be in Providencia by Friday after covering 280 NM. For those of you who know of Captain Morgan then this was where he was based when he used to attack the Spanish. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-29747265870434183572012-10-03T19:54:00.002-07:002012-10-03T20:08:02.716-07:00Canal Transit is Scheduled for Saturday 6th October!We were inspected this morning and measured for the canal transit. We had to get up early (for us) and take the boat down to La Playita to get the boat boarded and measured as they would not come to the Yacht club. So we were up at 8am and then had to get clearance to transit close to the channel down to La Playita. The canal authority have been great to deal with though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaDrhxFEpDdiNhlTV3x_BOy_WnswkvikdTox-QWGTkJEHqZN6kTrPPKJ11qvhPw7wOj47GYGDlkmFRtrEEfxzJgtRmGp4vE4SqkD6kL_2Da0MkTIMq6cyWs2kE86XE8XLcUDyEI2VMW0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-03+at+10.00.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaDrhxFEpDdiNhlTV3x_BOy_WnswkvikdTox-QWGTkJEHqZN6kTrPPKJ11qvhPw7wOj47GYGDlkmFRtrEEfxzJgtRmGp4vE4SqkD6kL_2Da0MkTIMq6cyWs2kE86XE8XLcUDyEI2VMW0/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-10-03+at+10.00.00+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We now are booked in for a transit on Saturday 6th October! You can even see us during the transit on the Panama Canal webcams! We'll be going through the Miraflores locks some time in the morning (probably early).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaroGlOm0XzjsnwPKSQz226SNS5mbyxjYuypIy-cD_SYpJvht-GuS44olM1aUkBRhEzHhtG413X27SZ_foOnNLO21kgnjLyrSYqvdPTIz8sI3EduaCZgObxIiwwuu6g0M07o6Li8OHU-A/s1600/800px-Panama_Canal_Gatun_Locks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaroGlOm0XzjsnwPKSQz226SNS5mbyxjYuypIy-cD_SYpJvht-GuS44olM1aUkBRhEzHhtG413X27SZ_foOnNLO21kgnjLyrSYqvdPTIz8sI3EduaCZgObxIiwwuu6g0M07o6Li8OHU-A/s1600/800px-Panama_Canal_Gatun_Locks.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The website for the cams can be found at <span style="font-family: Helvetica;">http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html</span><br />
<br />
<div>
We'll have the spot tracker on so you will be able to see where we are in the canal transit and which camera to look at by seeing our current position from the 'Where are we now' page from our blog.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi2rNnoJPjUhZ2mqm9o1_DrCrDaL5P7PCIKxbDNdemmpQIFAr-B0ahZJqyitlPdZz1lFvvFcEUIKDVPjD_b-RW1WpEMxV4_SRy_vvvR-ENiDkbRq00QvLfdJ8gscetrkSPdKpCnwsIlI/s1600/1108366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi2rNnoJPjUhZ2mqm9o1_DrCrDaL5P7PCIKxbDNdemmpQIFAr-B0ahZJqyitlPdZz1lFvvFcEUIKDVPjD_b-RW1WpEMxV4_SRy_vvvR-ENiDkbRq00QvLfdJ8gscetrkSPdKpCnwsIlI/s1600/1108366.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanks to Octavia for sending the link to the Cam's. Please take a screenshot of the cam if you see us and email!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-27794028186150467332012-10-02T16:55:00.002-07:002012-10-02T17:05:09.515-07:00Dismasting at Balboa Yacht Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've heard boats getting dismasted while out at sea, but i never thought my first time seeing one would be while i was safely moored in a yacht club! This afternoon i was sitting in the cockpit having a beer and watching the cargo ships go by, when the periodic wake of a tug disturbs my quiet afternoon and i grab my beer to make sure it doesn't go flying. I see the other boats doing the wake dance bucking with the waves when i hear a loud ping noise, followed by another and then i see the mast on the boat in front of us collapsing with each additional passing wave!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNaKxkaKr0-gb3-Vny780fVYYFaJMaEe1BJg3cTfAlpPeoAyBsSvVBPDiXnBSIrC1nBP0rs9O0aT_4FTLTcTNxN6k8HUNHy0YOpHDMbZSiS2Nn40upu0ESX09et1wbljbujobIqBTAPM/s1600/IMG_7827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNaKxkaKr0-gb3-Vny780fVYYFaJMaEe1BJg3cTfAlpPeoAyBsSvVBPDiXnBSIrC1nBP0rs9O0aT_4FTLTcTNxN6k8HUNHy0YOpHDMbZSiS2Nn40upu0ESX09et1wbljbujobIqBTAPM/s640/IMG_7827.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we're right by the channel for the Panama Canal, we are not allowed to drop our dinghy. I couldn't head over there, but i quickly got on the radio to inform the yacht club. Within a few minutes the club boats were over there. Luckily it looks like the owners were not on board.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxVF5We5Bm_vfIZqkDAxwqCrGyAmuioQR5JTAqkZL-dYcPJGGxORujEiW3LLl3Y9JWVC985392yzAzaxP1TBRIxLQ0LJjH4DRX12rgVOIgyX4MmV878W0_wbW_DcAVTpAIL07bCJ1csM/s1600/IMG_7868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxVF5We5Bm_vfIZqkDAxwqCrGyAmuioQR5JTAqkZL-dYcPJGGxORujEiW3LLl3Y9JWVC985392yzAzaxP1TBRIxLQ0LJjH4DRX12rgVOIgyX4MmV878W0_wbW_DcAVTpAIL07bCJ1csM/s640/IMG_7868.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I feel really sorry for these people. I can't imagine coming home to your boat to find this waiting for you. I guess in some ways it's better that it happened here rather than out and sea though!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-37038247206390566522012-09-22T11:09:00.002-07:002012-09-22T11:09:34.341-07:00Last Flight of Space Shuttle EndeavorSerena and I are back in San Francisco for a couple of weeks and as luck would have it the last flight of space shuttle Endeavor is taking place while we are here. Admittedly, it's flying on the back of a 747, but still great to see. The shuttle is set to pass low over the NASA Ames research airfield which did a lot of the work on the shuttle and they have opened it to the public for the event.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1D6R-aFJKvStGMkYnr4lgSK7TbO_yXpNhZ9oI3WlMPgYNyjPeNSyMHcKjPJ7sbUQBPRL17aSlshj67K0O8_-C9PDtHGOIg-cm2q1fdEvzkJwFZmfhQxjdlS8Y98raHiNm2azSEUt6M0/s1600/P1100536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1D6R-aFJKvStGMkYnr4lgSK7TbO_yXpNhZ9oI3WlMPgYNyjPeNSyMHcKjPJ7sbUQBPRL17aSlshj67K0O8_-C9PDtHGOIg-cm2q1fdEvzkJwFZmfhQxjdlS8Y98raHiNm2azSEUt6M0/s640/P1100536.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanger One - Built in 1930's as an airship hanger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7qNLqSpfThH4YHwNPuS7A-Nfm-RAei6ChNPon1avB9J6UVMlDTN208jx4jtG_FCk4cjFl4j75nCsjEMNWWk0ycg06PVYh1e7rmEJDu9TQwKg5ddBwqDNp-zfYGNbdugHqjgdGIamano/s1600/P1100533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7qNLqSpfThH4YHwNPuS7A-Nfm-RAei6ChNPon1avB9J6UVMlDTN208jx4jtG_FCk4cjFl4j75nCsjEMNWWk0ycg06PVYh1e7rmEJDu9TQwKg5ddBwqDNp-zfYGNbdugHqjgdGIamano/s640/P1100533.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NASA Control Tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa5zvyVGvbzKHLE1fzfJrRhzaKSU4uXToBbySGYaLVB-cyTp_lLDVnoVBv-tErPCe2jxQ9hyphenhyphenuIuAjySccaRUsIbS86utzWhm0rF_NL997DrUZK1BnQgxt0luItVxo30fDYKVbDtnnlA4/s1600/P1100534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa5zvyVGvbzKHLE1fzfJrRhzaKSU4uXToBbySGYaLVB-cyTp_lLDVnoVBv-tErPCe2jxQ9hyphenhyphenuIuAjySccaRUsIbS86utzWhm0rF_NL997DrUZK1BnQgxt0luItVxo30fDYKVbDtnnlA4/s640/P1100534.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main runway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was there with our friends Petter and Octavia to watch the event unfold.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlIk00kYq9JI6pUbaoVgy6eTD535khfGu_dXWBWYZ-A9EzaxHg1bfNo0P_UqihVUEsgMtRV5jIU4F68M59DEpD3KXrzLKRb7q5IT3tYXM28SHKGzseQPHq-fwu9I0HqfDp_x9Tj4E9Pw/s1600/P1100549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlIk00kYq9JI6pUbaoVgy6eTD535khfGu_dXWBWYZ-A9EzaxHg1bfNo0P_UqihVUEsgMtRV5jIU4F68M59DEpD3KXrzLKRb7q5IT3tYXM28SHKGzseQPHq-fwu9I0HqfDp_x9Tj4E9Pw/s400/P1100549.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octavia and Petter </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMAYoqyXtmz8AikrQRi5Rq1qhyphenhyphensOn32Sen0GgekMCpuOyBfd3zHUbwBYzw1cugyv3pI8oidoYZeZY1N8Vk1ie8UkmJ66C0xNlM7XiqGNm-VG1jRfNDN_rv_HGCgHpPyoS3TA0dQ-lFq8/s1600/P1100550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMAYoqyXtmz8AikrQRi5Rq1qhyphenhyphensOn32Sen0GgekMCpuOyBfd3zHUbwBYzw1cugyv3pI8oidoYZeZY1N8Vk1ie8UkmJ66C0xNlM7XiqGNm-VG1jRfNDN_rv_HGCgHpPyoS3TA0dQ-lFq8/s400/P1100550.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The flight was a bit delayed due to fog in San Francisco, but at around 10:45am we saw one of the jet support planes coming in and then the shuttle itself riding on the back of the 747 transport!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxK8YgrjO2-Iv_A8yVvZpJQCC2QoXtF9GqaB31NutRiSwEuIeL1tggTPIFAGzMJ35khSaTQ4oFtefgTbdGsRsLlPUAMdEqY6sW7jt08R9sqZOsElw5JJFlBSbeew5TidB0CdoIZtvH_Y/s1600/P1100561+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxK8YgrjO2-Iv_A8yVvZpJQCC2QoXtF9GqaB31NutRiSwEuIeL1tggTPIFAGzMJ35khSaTQ4oFtefgTbdGsRsLlPUAMdEqY6sW7jt08R9sqZOsElw5JJFlBSbeew5TidB0CdoIZtvH_Y/s640/P1100561+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77ih4FdwDgoCYIY07XF7xbXsIQd7tU9zjFbYUNdK5YiqmhyokAMsK3EgN5_iFwJr6Lb56jAvup-2mC6GkzU5UPtWY-_Gg0l9MQi2J9xwXbYLCxRLQwi7HKpU5S-nHqtyxnxHhlNFvMhI/s1600/P1100562+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77ih4FdwDgoCYIY07XF7xbXsIQd7tU9zjFbYUNdK5YiqmhyokAMsK3EgN5_iFwJr6Lb56jAvup-2mC6GkzU5UPtWY-_Gg0l9MQi2J9xwXbYLCxRLQwi7HKpU5S-nHqtyxnxHhlNFvMhI/s640/P1100562+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I only had our little point and shoot camera so you cant see how close it actually was, but it was probably only 500 feet or so above us!<br />
<br />
I remembered my mum and dad waking my brother and i to see the first take off and landing of the shuttle as a little kid, so it was good to be able to see the end of that era.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-27532660669276932532012-09-05T11:12:00.008-07:002012-09-05T11:12:58.769-07:00Tsunami warning for Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua cancelled! If you have been watching the news you may have seen that a Tsunami warning was issued for Panama following the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Costa Rica. Thankfully the Tsunami warning has been cancelled so it's back to normal here.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Special thanks to Elan for calling to warn us! Nearly choked on my beer at the news!</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2epXa0q0hEXLcgOo5dNrUtnFaZ5HgHTfOhYgI8AvK7Vyzlz3YDlatQXC9dH_qR1R04p_iTuE7vtOmY9dql4yJGRTjzYrpB9YFDBmXsaLidcBhlKO8Yomi1SGA-cgFb6-08TRBfUOeas/s1600/quake_newsfull_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2epXa0q0hEXLcgOo5dNrUtnFaZ5HgHTfOhYgI8AvK7Vyzlz3YDlatQXC9dH_qR1R04p_iTuE7vtOmY9dql4yJGRTjzYrpB9YFDBmXsaLidcBhlKO8Yomi1SGA-cgFb6-08TRBfUOeas/s640/quake_newsfull_h.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-83330799678802670652012-08-26T15:28:00.001-07:002012-08-26T15:28:46.729-07:00Costa Rica to Panama CityIf you have been following our track via the 'Where are we now' section of our blog you'll have noticed that we have been making some swift progress down the coast. <br/><br/> We had a one day trip from Drakes Bay to Golfito where we were headed to check out of Costa Rica and get our international travel papers. It was a bit out of the way, but it had the added bonus of being very well protected and we were looking forward to some good nights sleep after many rolly nights at the anchorages we had been at. We arrived in the afternoon and pulled into the protected harbor and navigated our way down to Land and Sea Marina. Tim hailed us on channel 16 as we went past as it was difficult to see where the marina was and guided us in to our mooring. This is a great place to stay as well as being friendly and cheap. As I was tying us up, I heard Serena call out and looked over to see our friends Aaron and Nicole waving from their boat Bella Star on the next mooring over! We hadn't seen them since El Salvador and thought they were still behind us. It was good to catch up over dinner and get caught up on their travels.<br><br/><br/>As we only had two days left of our 3 month temporary import permit for Solent, we got started straight away on the international checkout process. The first day we paid the fees at the bank and got the necessary copies of our paperwork so we were ready for the process the next day. The check out went smoothly despite the fact that when we originally checked in they got confused with my New Zealand passport and put that I was from New Caledonia! What I didn't realize was that they had also put the boat as a New Caledonian flagged vessel, where it is a US flagged one! Despite all the inconsistencies we had done immigration, customs and the Port Captain in under 2 hours which i was happy with as each office was in different parts of town. We now had 24 hours to depart which was fine as we were leaving at first light the next day.<br/><br/>The next day had a few thunderstorms on the horizon, but we headed out and managed to avoid these and was hoisting our Panamanian courtesy flag before lunch time as we crossed the border. We also caught our first yellowfin tuna not far into Panamanian waters. This thing was huge and at least 20lbs or more! We have been trying to avoid night transits where possible as the nights are normally full of thunderstorms during the rainy season. Our first stop was to be Isla Parida as we could get there by 4pm which is our target time as the thunderstorms often start after that. We went to the closest anchorage on the SW corner of the island. The anchorage was small and some fishing vessels already had the best position so we didn't have a whole lot of protection. Luckily the wind and swell were coming from the same direction and we had a good nights sleep.<br/><br/>We left early the next morning for Isla Cebaco. 3am to be exact! I'd woken early and decided we may as well get the boat underway. The only problem with leaving that early is that the thunderstorms are still in full swing so I spent the next three hours dodging storms. Not long after sunrise the storms disappeared and we had a smooth journey. Just after lunch we came across a group of whales with little babies jumping out of the water. It was an amazing sight to see a creature of that size come completely out of the water. It was the closest we had been and I had to turn sharply to make sure we didn't hit one at one point. The swell was fairly significant and our destination anchorage, while in a bay was open to the swell, so i wasn't hopeful we would get a good nights sleep. When we got there the best spot had mooring buoys installed, but I managed to get us in close to shore tucked in behind the moorings. We were only in 10 feet of water, but it was low tide so we would be fine and we had another great nights sleep here.<br/><br/>Originally we were going to do an overnighter to Panama City from here, but after much reading decided to try what was considered a marginal anchorage at Ensenada Benoa about half way. The seas were a lot bigger today, but it's surprising what you start considering as fine and I didn't really give it a thought until Serena said she thought they were about 20 ft high. Benoa isn't supposed to be well protected and with the sea state I was thinking we should press on, but Serena convinced me to give it a go. We pulled in and managed to tuck in behind the little island in what is an otherwise open bay in 10 feet of water where we were protected. I could have easily swam to shore from where we were and people were surfing some big waves not far down the beach, but where we were, tucked in tight behind the island, the boat was very settled and we had a very relaxing evening.<br/><br/> The forecast for the morning was good with light winds which was perfect for rounding point Mala. Most boaters are anxious when rounding the point as the seas and wind are magnified by the point as well as it having lots of traffic as nearly all the ships must come around the point as they head into the canal. We were very lucky and had calm seas and no traffic until we were got around the point and were well clear of the shipping lane by then. Serena is on watch now as I write this and she just called me up as we had another Skipjack tuna on (we have caught 13 today!). We let him go as we still have tuna in the fridge and I'd even already had some for breakfast!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-36291595771184839082012-08-19T18:25:00.001-07:002012-08-19T18:25:15.892-07:00Manual Antonio<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
We left Los Suenos marina on Saturday afternoon and anchored out in the bay which was very rolly and we didn't get much sleep. I wondered if I may have lost my sea legs and was actually feeling a little bit nervous about the trip. At first light (5am on Sunday morning) we headed off to our first destination, Manuel Antonio park. Manuel Antonio is the smallest conservation park in Costa Rica, but is renowned for the most amazing wildlife. We arrived at around 2pm after a 40 mile journey and were absolutely exhausted so decided not to go to shore until the next day. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNAHJHBtVH1ZZOqfzLjPHFycv7ghj_skIKIJrkM4Xr8sQsKwOnyyNX1dpQ8tY7N1JPa-0Df4qyj0wXbrffceWMkGLC5fA_Q1gm6lZwlWvbgZIhHsIIOzv70v4jH-qMm_j69ZuUATbvqY/s1600/IMG_6248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNAHJHBtVH1ZZOqfzLjPHFycv7ghj_skIKIJrkM4Xr8sQsKwOnyyNX1dpQ8tY7N1JPa-0Df4qyj0wXbrffceWMkGLC5fA_Q1gm6lZwlWvbgZIhHsIIOzv70v4jH-qMm_j69ZuUATbvqY/s640/IMG_6248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solent anchored at Manual Antonio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWEZuvm-riaa3wAS16xow2bRxRS1x0UEtK7E0nt-22mxZc_D36kaom-HcpIYR9_JcZnAbPi3dwguqHvdTo4VIFewn4Z1YElC7mgYjmOo-gK1FQDkqDwGcIL1hsLKazo8WoIOzbg0xlv4/s1600/IMG_6250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWEZuvm-riaa3wAS16xow2bRxRS1x0UEtK7E0nt-22mxZc_D36kaom-HcpIYR9_JcZnAbPi3dwguqHvdTo4VIFewn4Z1YElC7mgYjmOo-gK1FQDkqDwGcIL1hsLKazo8WoIOzbg0xlv4/s640/IMG_6250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
Unfortunately the anchorage was also very rolly so we had another sleepless night. If you visit the park, make sure you don't go on a Monday as it is closed. We didn't realize this and on Monday morning we packed a bag, launched the dinghy and headed over to the beach. We secured the dinghy and walked up into the jungle, but after about 10 minutes we were approached by a park ranger and told that the park was closed and were escorted back to our dinghy. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjNQp4t80mQ2H4avWmRVzwBHyYwr_0YhusDWhmMV8jFBoD-f3KvLiU45l6CzKVt8z92gSK58vXbMnWyYr3RpjNC6FMhg6cBjzf9uMVnf9vWfJg0mTKwPcXD46JTur9_xxh_aFDVAjfMM/s1600/IMG_6587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjNQp4t80mQ2H4avWmRVzwBHyYwr_0YhusDWhmMV8jFBoD-f3KvLiU45l6CzKVt8z92gSK58vXbMnWyYr3RpjNC6FMhg6cBjzf9uMVnf9vWfJg0mTKwPcXD46JTur9_xxh_aFDVAjfMM/s640/IMG_6587.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BFmKMSWuR1TGYZg9_ioUayGDoTO6EYvTLg5_yl1Ak09sjcq8WKlM7Ysk2nWY9xzpfYOzzX7UFM7sj20dc6_yUYSCOg0C2PoLQ1b93WuNn8CVhImXVqWJ8bX7Dx3nZVNfWuH709W8VGk/s1600/IMG_6625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BFmKMSWuR1TGYZg9_ioUayGDoTO6EYvTLg5_yl1Ak09sjcq8WKlM7Ysk2nWY9xzpfYOzzX7UFM7sj20dc6_yUYSCOg0C2PoLQ1b93WuNn8CVhImXVqWJ8bX7Dx3nZVNfWuH709W8VGk/s640/IMG_6625.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
We headed back across to the park again on Tuesday morning. Arriving by sea is a very unusual way to enter the park and to purchase a ticket for ourselves and to pay the $8 per day anchoring fee, we had to literally walk the whole way through the park to the main entrance. We were told that you could<span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span>only enter the park through the hotel even though we had already entered via the beach. Anyway, we followed the rules and managed to get our tickets and enter the park the correct way. Once we were officially inside the park we were able to relax and start the wild animal hunt. This place is absolutely amazing, it's like being in a zoo, but where the animals run free. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ04CG5NpuNF0M-Zx27fjUn3iKAKvcejqmrjy_rKBKbLnwJXztQwRbh8VvrJ5DcWIiXp8rU2m-Kqz29Kf92uJvuXR_adxPuMhcEWD2iFXr01qi8rpuMSc4nZZ-3Xy6-kQhSOqsZWeTbVE/s1600/IMG_6262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ04CG5NpuNF0M-Zx27fjUn3iKAKvcejqmrjy_rKBKbLnwJXztQwRbh8VvrJ5DcWIiXp8rU2m-Kqz29Kf92uJvuXR_adxPuMhcEWD2iFXr01qi8rpuMSc4nZZ-3Xy6-kQhSOqsZWeTbVE/s640/IMG_6262.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjNPmMmky6ZdyOmqku9aXs4QYnXCbIIgPBxGzRGRw8GdHOp9y9lg_SvIzHlCdqbBv6uLmaNw5vPuIfsMZBDX-sbrEj0pUrDdtP8ATugLLMu6IwjOWAlAyzZ6shTSHwBRTPioFKcDNcuM/s1600/IMG_6269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjNPmMmky6ZdyOmqku9aXs4QYnXCbIIgPBxGzRGRw8GdHOp9y9lg_SvIzHlCdqbBv6uLmaNw5vPuIfsMZBDX-sbrEj0pUrDdtP8ATugLLMu6IwjOWAlAyzZ6shTSHwBRTPioFKcDNcuM/s640/IMG_6269.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deadly Viper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0I1u1kk7JGgANB-OgsMjIR8unzGCCHa9AJ3pCDNyhufzSG-QWwBkKKnWZXY1lTwzJjck2efcnp6QK8r1al8jFNnxRj-P9XKOsZZ_LOGBcT5t45Drwq0fBgFgMWObKWDC9h3xvhjQjII/s1600/IMG_6279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0I1u1kk7JGgANB-OgsMjIR8unzGCCHa9AJ3pCDNyhufzSG-QWwBkKKnWZXY1lTwzJjck2efcnp6QK8r1al8jFNnxRj-P9XKOsZZ_LOGBcT5t45Drwq0fBgFgMWObKWDC9h3xvhjQjII/s640/IMG_6279.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZQtscEE6i7TLlA87ZDQ76YFxCd5EagNpVMwb2h3dPAZqN-a8UQYzvGzABt4wv3O3zHr03a4Bj3y8RJTK-7zQ7NublczM-9iJdVHemiY25E-XzOYYsZop8G7Tla_GkxPSZXvlgJuV4uY/s1600/IMG_6296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZQtscEE6i7TLlA87ZDQ76YFxCd5EagNpVMwb2h3dPAZqN-a8UQYzvGzABt4wv3O3zHr03a4Bj3y8RJTK-7zQ7NublczM-9iJdVHemiY25E-XzOYYsZop8G7Tla_GkxPSZXvlgJuV4uY/s640/IMG_6296.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howler Monkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu193_p6MAkWj9A0EcrWkdwUrkGBKBCcApE1AVFx7htY5JRrhQomEyyHLxUfvNAtNuI-Mi-CNijwRQGg2FoC5blBlU4mlVtH4mssY1_dHWvP_8NZFB__TlNNoTGlNRqI4f8R30w7L9FQ/s1600/IMG_6304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu193_p6MAkWj9A0EcrWkdwUrkGBKBCcApE1AVFx7htY5JRrhQomEyyHLxUfvNAtNuI-Mi-CNijwRQGg2FoC5blBlU4mlVtH4mssY1_dHWvP_8NZFB__TlNNoTGlNRqI4f8R30w7L9FQ/s640/IMG_6304.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These frogs are famous for their red eyes, but this one was sleeping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukdrzeKMh526mG-hF0IgFY553RC4IVRLXr5zKw3kYYBxGbdJzKNQTW2fQBDj4ShXHBKz8xmnT2VwY-YTFTo6Gp55xeT8yoRMoDeAZ4s6a2Kn-F-0SohajHB_VFhc-E-miMPo-x_SJGLE/s1600/IMG_6493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukdrzeKMh526mG-hF0IgFY553RC4IVRLXr5zKw3kYYBxGbdJzKNQTW2fQBDj4ShXHBKz8xmnT2VwY-YTFTo6Gp55xeT8yoRMoDeAZ4s6a2Kn-F-0SohajHB_VFhc-E-miMPo-x_SJGLE/s640/IMG_6493.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Toed Sloth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOZ_4Vx8rTJrZETkByTkFhHVDgOPzNUewzgPULM-TE2M8P4Eo8ExT1cUCuARjrr2vTvbL6oCrOatMLf_CGpuhUhSA2yLGTVPSFYHBmHemXZWOfXtGrNAhmabEmXVLH9vq-v-LmVLiJr4/s1600/IMG_6568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOZ_4Vx8rTJrZETkByTkFhHVDgOPzNUewzgPULM-TE2M8P4Eo8ExT1cUCuARjrr2vTvbL6oCrOatMLf_CGpuhUhSA2yLGTVPSFYHBmHemXZWOfXtGrNAhmabEmXVLH9vq-v-LmVLiJr4/s640/IMG_6568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloth having lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
After some exploring we found what looked like an old disused trail heading up the hill so we decided that heading cross country was the best way to see the wildest animals.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcAuGzu7wEofcuiwsdixNGFNN_2nQR1OrK7tB4N2kvUHgDW-F2pECYTZILF_Tng3ey4KY7EcKFxi-er8EkCKpTFCMWqnrXCDfd8a7Kuswkp-sOJlRhr5qTGaVqjj6WtkpjEWrQFb9c5k/s1600/IMG_6389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcAuGzu7wEofcuiwsdixNGFNN_2nQR1OrK7tB4N2kvUHgDW-F2pECYTZILF_Tng3ey4KY7EcKFxi-er8EkCKpTFCMWqnrXCDfd8a7Kuswkp-sOJlRhr5qTGaVqjj6WtkpjEWrQFb9c5k/s640/IMG_6389.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking up the trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h4_l1wHlKWeJxEjycjJY2W8ftMrdY7h7uzg2jBWivJBl4MlQuSyY5aDvusk4LdLTuTWKc-3q2C28YwVltwA86LFFOaFKR2uDD-tZEFCUM2-W8PLfOQFc-ra7lw3GMYYi15LXK9GzrHM/s1600/IMG_6409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h4_l1wHlKWeJxEjycjJY2W8ftMrdY7h7uzg2jBWivJBl4MlQuSyY5aDvusk4LdLTuTWKc-3q2C28YwVltwA86LFFOaFKR2uDD-tZEFCUM2-W8PLfOQFc-ra7lw3GMYYi15LXK9GzrHM/s640/IMG_6409.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top of the trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
On our way back we were stopped by another couple who told us that there were some aggressive monkeys ahead. As we headed down the path we saw that ahead a group of people were blocked off by a number of vicious monkeys. Lee gallantly went to the front of the group to try to disperse the assailants, but they formed up around him jumping from tree to tree and screaming at him.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwDiR2G5nhcnWvxfO8qnGZYHGij77e-JyHasQZ3eacBN-_eyTaZHvlcnkrKuq-Mc8Ky2uNdMK5xGrhDb7-SGwLly2o9DecsNoLNlqQWy9lOObn8_88Q-kFPb1yJof3V0Mbjs3l5NlNFQ/s1600/IMG_6435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwDiR2G5nhcnWvxfO8qnGZYHGij77e-JyHasQZ3eacBN-_eyTaZHvlcnkrKuq-Mc8Ky2uNdMK5xGrhDb7-SGwLly2o9DecsNoLNlqQWy9lOObn8_88Q-kFPb1yJof3V0Mbjs3l5NlNFQ/s640/IMG_6435.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys didn't want to let us pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcafr73jzwa-PzkSzVdUGtRtzaweWdxFlp6pDAA7dzdx_JkGESK2bKMu3wGtuavXi-p_-j1D7stxDPgS9U_FBzGZGhaHnw_Cqz3h-SazbB2nyGrl5fhDzIiE9B84vnbbEuUhuC5z8FFBE/s1600/IMG_6420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcafr73jzwa-PzkSzVdUGtRtzaweWdxFlp6pDAA7dzdx_JkGESK2bKMu3wGtuavXi-p_-j1D7stxDPgS9U_FBzGZGhaHnw_Cqz3h-SazbB2nyGrl5fhDzIiE9B84vnbbEuUhuC5z8FFBE/s640/IMG_6420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surrounded!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In response Lee let out a loud roar and drew his arms up like a Gorilla. The monkeys retreated back into the trees allowing us to pass behind him while he held them at bay, but seconds later they returned and one monkey (The one with the big teeth) had taken a liking to Lee and would not take his eyes off him. He followed us and at one point I thought it was going to jump on Lee's head. I was shaking from head to toe, but managed to get a few snaps of him. When we finally got away from the monkeys one of the girls told us that this was her best experience in Costa Rica and that Lee was a hero!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbyT745h6tsZRD21hpmoS6eZrbVSSsXB3DdwCsyE-DKVI9fyK2STAp5r-MscGHiyieRCO8VH7mB7ZeEBBnqiTEZQ3MxXBL1mz9r0NXbTUc8-D4tIEA_PqgTFlaJqiHASER5y2DKnEblE/s1600/IMG_6421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbyT745h6tsZRD21hpmoS6eZrbVSSsXB3DdwCsyE-DKVI9fyK2STAp5r-MscGHiyieRCO8VH7mB7ZeEBBnqiTEZQ3MxXBL1mz9r0NXbTUc8-D4tIEA_PqgTFlaJqiHASER5y2DKnEblE/s640/IMG_6421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A_bTUXYLIU6QmU4RWeMJ_hFbTWuNtJ_z3VoiQSFgUz9jqrbWk-EQ1BnSOT14mqDgioa9p_NexPBsdrKf4yq383muhQnidkfnevR6ZJHk80OZ6HgIsjzcNRsVJGf6sVFUKKwFT4B_3U/s1600/IMG_6440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A_bTUXYLIU6QmU4RWeMJ_hFbTWuNtJ_z3VoiQSFgUz9jqrbWk-EQ1BnSOT14mqDgioa9p_NexPBsdrKf4yq383muhQnidkfnevR6ZJHk80OZ6HgIsjzcNRsVJGf6sVFUKKwFT4B_3U/s640/IMG_6440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Wx462CN-G2_lsLsG3SWSE92n1ExC08xQoaWaa9IgWZYfCnPt3DxZbW33pnH1ljKZ4sZ9JiBQ-PYeXkibYQy0VPzluJg0xbPGc9lV-gV-fjYZdqb0mwXfVJl9pek9qN8jUBMlLf-jLE/s1600/IMG_6442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Wx462CN-G2_lsLsG3SWSE92n1ExC08xQoaWaa9IgWZYfCnPt3DxZbW33pnH1ljKZ4sZ9JiBQ-PYeXkibYQy0VPzluJg0xbPGc9lV-gV-fjYZdqb0mwXfVJl9pek9qN8jUBMlLf-jLE/s640/IMG_6442.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga37NR2zpGiyGxBlBrz1m0_AYeWfStVh21tuPMg0Rsl3RK-I467i4O0NL1juuMDtBcFtGaZgswIL9hMsmnKDRQQJHEdQr56vpuwHOV-1MmISdEa7QKAkqfa23D70h7aZHgb39WZcL-6Rg/s1600/IMG_6445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga37NR2zpGiyGxBlBrz1m0_AYeWfStVh21tuPMg0Rsl3RK-I467i4O0NL1juuMDtBcFtGaZgswIL9hMsmnKDRQQJHEdQr56vpuwHOV-1MmISdEa7QKAkqfa23D70h7aZHgb39WZcL-6Rg/s640/IMG_6445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdNS9x_xHrli4AYYUAh8Z35trgT5QA2VIO1g8MSiWB0uPsNBzeiG_IWwKMRjSc7QzXdouyP_rLwPaWwWy2l3nBrKb4xTHfz1fHI-65_Batfp3fUVh6vqV6Kyrix1BwTOStkHA-H0hO5k/s1600/IMG_6448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdNS9x_xHrli4AYYUAh8Z35trgT5QA2VIO1g8MSiWB0uPsNBzeiG_IWwKMRjSc7QzXdouyP_rLwPaWwWy2l3nBrKb4xTHfz1fHI-65_Batfp3fUVh6vqV6Kyrix1BwTOStkHA-H0hO5k/s640/IMG_6448.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtslzxHqWEFchHk5dEDSTZmtdyDE9X2Mmx-AwisWOId_ELvUn2ZZPk1g61xFCi2qV8rykYlwoxltQpj1Zk4qnAOQgqKYiIlN33OkLlnjNTLvBOn3boI_YTQOUeVJAntdwALUb-Mm6PVI/s1600/IMG_6415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtslzxHqWEFchHk5dEDSTZmtdyDE9X2Mmx-AwisWOId_ELvUn2ZZPk1g61xFCi2qV8rykYlwoxltQpj1Zk4qnAOQgqKYiIlN33OkLlnjNTLvBOn3boI_YTQOUeVJAntdwALUb-Mm6PVI/s640/IMG_6415.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
On our way back to the dinghy, I spotted a tail with huge spines. We see iguanas all day but the spines on this one's tail would make it a really big iguana, too big. I pointed it out to Lee and we followed the body until we could see the head.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rg1J7DDo3-b6rWbXeVidZUgILD89RSYZIZB-34R5EtCOzD7S0xGkT3P2fG_PdcW6xMlv21RADlKDXGQyMpd29A_nhmsXmVFX0RVwQ0s7dRrjw-NfIIzrTTAWH4e-pU36AYLSy0bqqlo/s1600/IMG_6658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rg1J7DDo3-b6rWbXeVidZUgILD89RSYZIZB-34R5EtCOzD7S0xGkT3P2fG_PdcW6xMlv21RADlKDXGQyMpd29A_nhmsXmVFX0RVwQ0s7dRrjw-NfIIzrTTAWH4e-pU36AYLSy0bqqlo/s640/IMG_6658.jpg" width="640" /></a>It was a flippin Croc, just hanging around the beach about 3 meters from us.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxucISL4RjNV-eM8AT3mKX0HWDh5pv75ANdQ4IPfypuC2lKUpP6EvDDZ4p2-9nGtnZkyeQ1WLI_bb6Srr_8ILvMuOPxoZ7oIhlJOeKYfSn7X04J6MKTGvMijo4u83nbFQUNG2bFFRaheQ/s1600/IMG_6677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxucISL4RjNV-eM8AT3mKX0HWDh5pv75ANdQ4IPfypuC2lKUpP6EvDDZ4p2-9nGtnZkyeQ1WLI_bb6Srr_8ILvMuOPxoZ7oIhlJOeKYfSn7X04J6MKTGvMijo4u83nbFQUNG2bFFRaheQ/s640/IMG_6677.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were able to get as close as we liked to this guy who was just hanging out in a small tree on the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
If your in Costa Rica, don't miss this place.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-22942338585983492322012-08-19T16:17:00.001-07:002012-08-19T16:17:26.821-07:00Los Suenos Marina, Herradura, Costa Rica<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
It's been some time since we last updated our blog. One key reason is that we have been stationary at Los Suenos marina, Herradura in Costa Rica for 2 and a half months. It's a great marina that has no less than 7 restaurants including an amazing sushi place! </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDjkIvTberWDpxvizIPTXa79b2djRN1Pgk8GExY-ta6Dj39M4x059GRhG4ns-OeqC0EaUojkiBV9e9JigV_zO2hm5fDzqu0_KjX6f9yv07oQEeD24CV_pkhEMZaB6n5Qr5niq4zLu6sk/s1600/about_marina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDjkIvTberWDpxvizIPTXa79b2djRN1Pgk8GExY-ta6Dj39M4x059GRhG4ns-OeqC0EaUojkiBV9e9JigV_zO2hm5fDzqu0_KjX6f9yv07oQEeD24CV_pkhEMZaB6n5Qr5niq4zLu6sk/s640/about_marina.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
We haven't only been relaxing though and have also been busy working and preparing the boat for our trip south as well. Serena went back to work in the US while I worked on the boat in Costa Rica. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuZpiRACUFPCYhuiYtRkaRPg9BmX1vsE86aSwexymLfgofT-_GYNB_8qVaLq2tpX1EBXw7hU0jDj-lJXBliUfUxuhsYBgwJYLZTX-VndiYK90a1FjyQy5N7BADL1LmmKUMB3oCV6TzYs/s1600/IMG_6020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuZpiRACUFPCYhuiYtRkaRPg9BmX1vsE86aSwexymLfgofT-_GYNB_8qVaLq2tpX1EBXw7hU0jDj-lJXBliUfUxuhsYBgwJYLZTX-VndiYK90a1FjyQy5N7BADL1LmmKUMB3oCV6TzYs/s640/IMG_6020.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
Serena went to Texas, California and Illinois and even managed a visit to see Nicole in Canada. We also managed to travel together back to San Francisco where we were able to finally get our storage container emptied and visit all of our friends at Westpoint. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNtR2JG5Flveq3Ev69HsRn-bSfOz-yXkJV5AIBc4znmZ0Jlupj1CeOzG63nHp2-4eg_iVFYSGEo4EEKR4w-yYsMW-lzWHj5HTFi4dnGFXL54KvbISDjyQ5IqN7P0Y7IznulZRgYMyCg0/s1600/P1100068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNtR2JG5Flveq3Ev69HsRn-bSfOz-yXkJV5AIBc4znmZ0Jlupj1CeOzG63nHp2-4eg_iVFYSGEo4EEKR4w-yYsMW-lzWHj5HTFi4dnGFXL54KvbISDjyQ5IqN7P0Y7IznulZRgYMyCg0/s640/P1100068.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While Serena was in the office, I visited Santa Monica Blvd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWI0J1YCIOB0xKmnzqsZqfjIM07I5Zr-dFyoIdoUmWnbOuMeW69PhqLckB2tivGfjEfXMOQ0hWblmmLH0NsstfVX0v0stL5j_KezfxGWhjDcUdmELdPpLm6UCLXQWMugTdzvcSahFvz4/s1600/P1100071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWI0J1YCIOB0xKmnzqsZqfjIM07I5Zr-dFyoIdoUmWnbOuMeW69PhqLckB2tivGfjEfXMOQ0hWblmmLH0NsstfVX0v0stL5j_KezfxGWhjDcUdmELdPpLm6UCLXQWMugTdzvcSahFvz4/s640/P1100071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
As a consequence of emptying our storage locker we now have items that no other cruiser in the Pacific is likely to have, two sets of ski's. We also brought back two bikes! We got some strange looks at the airport arriving in Costa Rica with ski's, but also some strange looks in the US when we checked in 6 very unusually shaped bags. When we returned to the boat we had to get to work in making room for all of this extra stuff so we had a massive week long clear out where we became quite famous for our trash with the marina workers. We hadn't realized that they go through everyones rubbish and recycle everything and so they had a field day with all of the stuff we were getting rid of. We literally had 5 sacks of rubbish a day for a week. Here are some pictures just to give you an idea of the size of this little project. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GraFkmPyrasps3TWnMVFow_b2LewHzcPLldQ59l_HOSQD9l_f64_b5p06cTGdhOBgL6AQa_M5CQgLAyT2l9ogv-p05qDewQiIkEn2KXgbpAOL4isl0D7k9yCpVf0CBpEnZG_PnSsBHI/s1600/P1100129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GraFkmPyrasps3TWnMVFow_b2LewHzcPLldQ59l_HOSQD9l_f64_b5p06cTGdhOBgL6AQa_M5CQgLAyT2l9ogv-p05qDewQiIkEn2KXgbpAOL4isl0D7k9yCpVf0CBpEnZG_PnSsBHI/s640/P1100129.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">I hate to think of the distance most of this has traveled and how much faster the boat might have been without it. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
Serena has been dying to see a crocodile since Mexico where we saw many croc warning signs but no actual crocs. Well that all changed while were in Los Suenos and have now seen more than we care for. You wont find us swimming off the back of the boat as often as we used to.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00rkOS5cxd1d1gIcdDcDHYWmPW0QPSFfkRM7A8VDJZo66azZJ5bISO1g1WWXM3Br5ZvGNiUD2lC9aZyobtEizGJFbeLNO_EOQGH4IVXV_CHZc2YRchzoR7IR7HUpvjmUXys0_M4bPJk0/s1600/IMG_6077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00rkOS5cxd1d1gIcdDcDHYWmPW0QPSFfkRM7A8VDJZo66azZJ5bISO1g1WWXM3Br5ZvGNiUD2lC9aZyobtEizGJFbeLNO_EOQGH4IVXV_CHZc2YRchzoR7IR7HUpvjmUXys0_M4bPJk0/s640/IMG_6077.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejgMHQW4FJOuXQXsDeBjrb76oQfvGr4iUlfLOniiytGYJ26J4Hioj0DGD60qDc4aaNgN-xEmR69Hdz-yrz8PKWNfF594Al616rd0Wld-TZE-DPMF37z6GekWgKSb5zDDRp0i1INg0lOU/s1600/IMG_6176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejgMHQW4FJOuXQXsDeBjrb76oQfvGr4iUlfLOniiytGYJ26J4Hioj0DGD60qDc4aaNgN-xEmR69Hdz-yrz8PKWNfF594Al616rd0Wld-TZE-DPMF37z6GekWgKSb5zDDRp0i1INg0lOU/s640/IMG_6176.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf5i2GXYXH7J5xe2IytkL26vJhs9EG_Zdv3JIjQNgNLNfdPtUvv-M0DRYSSUpNvyHYq2agOSFIoSvPFK1fdjKzJUEYmGqllkPl00LVXU6qVmmfK4TSMmWEUq1CDKejlwKjvjMR96GykA/s1600/IMG_6099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf5i2GXYXH7J5xe2IytkL26vJhs9EG_Zdv3JIjQNgNLNfdPtUvv-M0DRYSSUpNvyHYq2agOSFIoSvPFK1fdjKzJUEYmGqllkPl00LVXU6qVmmfK4TSMmWEUq1CDKejlwKjvjMR96GykA/s640/IMG_6099.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So now that the boat is in order we're ready to leave the comforts of Los Suenos and head back out into the wild! Our first stop is Manuel Antonio national park.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-63062297967279634312012-08-15T07:43:00.000-07:002012-11-20T14:22:54.034-08:00Drakes Bay - Indiana Moreton and the temple of monkeysOn August 15th we travelled from Manuel Antonio to Drakes Bay, where we spent 3 days exploring. Drakes bay is on south west coast of Costa Rica and was until recently, inaccessible by land. There are only a few dirt roads that lead to the village from the water, and which are only accessible during dry season. We were very happy to find a nice dinghy dock at Drakes bay where we could step off our boat onto dry land, what a luxury! It was nice not to have to plan a beach landing, where we usually have a 50-50 chance of getting very wet. It was also nice not to have to figure out how and where to tie our boat up and wonder if it might still be there when we return from our adventures ashore.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-KbhIebzyT-gy-KDZN2d1EhYJKfUWiS5MugMJb-f4nIPzwJLn3gvnNMOqkrK7OjKGj_xwiTGud6lvhLFGBhbLjPEbwcGRAoaLPNU8UCogoQbGNiE6Sudl_er-ZcHW62Av5Z_p6qsjt4/s1600/IMG_6832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-KbhIebzyT-gy-KDZN2d1EhYJKfUWiS5MugMJb-f4nIPzwJLn3gvnNMOqkrK7OjKGj_xwiTGud6lvhLFGBhbLjPEbwcGRAoaLPNU8UCogoQbGNiE6Sudl_er-ZcHW62Av5Z_p6qsjt4/s640/IMG_6832.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dinghy dock<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">After tying up the dinghy, we decided to try and find somewhere to have breakfast and discovered that the dinghy dock belonged to an ecolodge that has a couple of cool restaurants that look almost like tree houses, sitting on the waterfront. Unfortunately the restaurants are for residents only unless booked in advance, so we weren't able to get breakfast there. The waiter at the restaurant pointed us in the direction of the village where we would be able to find some food, so we headed off through the jungle to find the road.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8axoAg7Gt3UnoyvHllM7r4BjRe7jYJlRB663arUIsS6NOcq2yb4RgxSPvW0ca4V24_0LkgSG5LLRfELqul0L0ncKhw7jzcUulibkniEProM1ruMxPhvQi6oLC1oE9piqQUnbrJxkqli8/s1600/IMG_6732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8axoAg7Gt3UnoyvHllM7r4BjRe7jYJlRB663arUIsS6NOcq2yb4RgxSPvW0ca4V24_0LkgSG5LLRfELqul0L0ncKhw7jzcUulibkniEProM1ruMxPhvQi6oLC1oE9piqQUnbrJxkqli8/s640/IMG_6732.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Solent from the jungle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoak5gKIe27lKiyWuHY9LEclBzKtAhp6mKwaoB53n1DypZFstFBYMZl_6cH9i8m_ibDv3AAnDPMnIY3hl0qeRgahaJtQme8fDW36caBDMt9lkdQheRfJB4bmJNwbWEqYg1ueKNusAOts/s1600/IMG_6736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoak5gKIe27lKiyWuHY9LEclBzKtAhp6mKwaoB53n1DypZFstFBYMZl_6cH9i8m_ibDv3AAnDPMnIY3hl0qeRgahaJtQme8fDW36caBDMt9lkdQheRfJB4bmJNwbWEqYg1ueKNusAOts/s640/IMG_6736.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant bamboo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMP5FGXUNGThHru8D6msnAY6RSeefgH2hRkK4AiqLi4jYhBT0tairG2j5Wx9uvcay_eu3XoKBFlzxcV8zWkmL6DkXo1Nf4hERbSgjgwGgYWJeh9vmhHJ_5n_6YX9rL-Oem2LrEQ6cwE4/s1600/IMG_6738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMP5FGXUNGThHru8D6msnAY6RSeefgH2hRkK4AiqLi4jYhBT0tairG2j5Wx9uvcay_eu3XoKBFlzxcV8zWkmL6DkXo1Nf4hERbSgjgwGgYWJeh9vmhHJ_5n_6YX9rL-Oem2LrEQ6cwE4/s640/IMG_6738.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
As we walked through the grounds of the eco lodge, we spotted a gardener who was collecting tropical plants for this stunning arrangement. We also saw a few guests and noticed how differently we were dressed to them. They were fully kitted out in their jungle outfits of quick dry, long but convertible trousers, long sleeve shirts and hiking boots. We must be getting used to being in the jungle as we were wearing flip flops!<br />
<br />
Finally we made it to the dirt road which we followed past the school, through a river, over a river and into the village. The village is very small, but we managed to find a cool place up the hill where we had a really good breakfast and some fresh rainforest coffee. Whilst eating breakfast we had the most amazing view of a large group of scarlet macaws sitting in the trees. Scarlet macaws are the largest parrots in the world, so it was great to see them in their natural habitat. There was also an open air supermarket attached to the restaurant, brilliant!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj6jF299UmrVY0_FIYJtsRwRYQc_MA7NYvpcXorukyXt-RSUro3S9F1Yfm2aJJLj49N2SRfU5ve-iQwt3zGAtomgECrBFuoStFHQRpHb8MqJkVxSiE66hSB_t5pp8W9c3X8U6vLWSk8w/s1600/IMG_6745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj6jF299UmrVY0_FIYJtsRwRYQc_MA7NYvpcXorukyXt-RSUro3S9F1Yfm2aJJLj49N2SRfU5ve-iQwt3zGAtomgECrBFuoStFHQRpHb8MqJkVxSiE66hSB_t5pp8W9c3X8U6vLWSk8w/s640/IMG_6745.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road to village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XsRoq0_m7jFwnbCD3G6xAG1VoA5Fpyu0MKrUAdtXWxiuxXiwvPdskCXcYnqdSymRTs0-oZ3MvoMen88rztnNEXCTZM5VcRf6f_UUiyy-IhS4eKq1CnVd2QeWJ3GJ7c4zto31TYRkOIw/s1600/IMG_6747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XsRoq0_m7jFwnbCD3G6xAG1VoA5Fpyu0MKrUAdtXWxiuxXiwvPdskCXcYnqdSymRTs0-oZ3MvoMen88rztnNEXCTZM5VcRf6f_UUiyy-IhS4eKq1CnVd2QeWJ3GJ7c4zto31TYRkOIw/s640/IMG_6747.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drakes bay school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqAXrOz2wm4iK3wFBO85H5Xyq5QETRcztAmMsuc1klh9XaBxOnXUR_5ohGMKBS6J4JX7KttOgstVF6BPr-t1-Ez7Aa7Ejp-VrPuF2xKSXRt5cAZ7kERgLbKCf4CL-Si25hOFNDxjFu3k/s1600/IMG_7031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqAXrOz2wm4iK3wFBO85H5Xyq5QETRcztAmMsuc1klh9XaBxOnXUR_5ohGMKBS6J4JX7KttOgstVF6BPr-t1-Ez7Aa7Ejp-VrPuF2xKSXRt5cAZ7kERgLbKCf4CL-Si25hOFNDxjFu3k/s640/IMG_7031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Macaw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3-9q0TOAkrGKPqMVyERV2hoI24E4rXHVlCJ1QWMV0Q2dK8TJ_8-gcTn8ak6pJEzBKnwJnmXCex2SIMUviEEBDBy9gRHujw7DfFdzARGizOBiZl-jPfngY88fUk3VHHvIkOguvWCw5Ps/s1600/IMG_6763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3-9q0TOAkrGKPqMVyERV2hoI24E4rXHVlCJ1QWMV0Q2dK8TJ_8-gcTn8ak6pJEzBKnwJnmXCex2SIMUviEEBDBy9gRHujw7DfFdzARGizOBiZl-jPfngY88fUk3VHHvIkOguvWCw5Ps/s640/IMG_6763.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The open air supermarket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLWWKxwMBIxxNzRPsYGs_urSlugWKG60WHdPqe6pwTM2f5jIFX3XjkkZ3U99bZD5ylvtKI-nc8l2OpbnMNyAQA1p9NLVNNKdbyxeVrqRGwnosX6bEuRnpSyBFJGr_KPDDOKNwPTJnL6c/s1600/IMG_6787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLWWKxwMBIxxNzRPsYGs_urSlugWKG60WHdPqe6pwTM2f5jIFX3XjkkZ3U99bZD5ylvtKI-nc8l2OpbnMNyAQA1p9NLVNNKdbyxeVrqRGwnosX6bEuRnpSyBFJGr_KPDDOKNwPTJnL6c/s640/IMG_6787.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing one of the old and rusty suspension bridges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB8SLT-cfrzog2XEhKvTKlSy8eu0zuHFWdOWlGHeWqBHI_59PGjC4VH71vQ9PNMgiWa3gACNSbpXpudsyd7Xhz5I1EyzMJzkpLTeiq45O9LR8Bjyn9MQsj50FljEleZo_zAXUJwTWxgE/s1600/IMG_6814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB8SLT-cfrzog2XEhKvTKlSy8eu0zuHFWdOWlGHeWqBHI_59PGjC4VH71vQ9PNMgiWa3gACNSbpXpudsyd7Xhz5I1EyzMJzkpLTeiq45O9LR8Bjyn9MQsj50FljEleZo_zAXUJwTWxgE/s640/IMG_6814.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocodiles below!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Drakes bay was Sir Francis Drake's most likely landing spot on the west coast of north America during his travels around the world in the 16th century. Apparently it is also the location of some of the British pirates hidden treasures.<br />
<br />
The following day we decided to go on a treasure hunt. Lee decided to wear his Indiana Jones outfit and bring along his lasso just in case. After a while trekking uphill through the jungle we came upon another suspension bridge. This one was much longer and higher than the others we had seen and really did look like it was part of a movie set. As we approached the bridge we saw that a large group of monkeys were making their way across the bridge towards us. Lee was keen to cross the bridge full of monkeys, but I hadn't forgotten about our last monkey encounter and managed to persuade him to wait until they had crossed before we did. I didn't fancy having flying screaming monkeys jumping in my face whilst hanging onto a rusty old suspension bridge surrounded by crocs! Once the monkeys had disappeared into the trees we headed across.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYKx5Iy-YNOkzbw-5XR7YDZusvZ1EOz9cq0-LgWXQQXsjoXqxlciDvI2seUcc0BwBIlYHX6qy-5kKyWOLzIaNzMS-xKSCOrV6hyphenhyphenO4upexSIitttPPVwiaR6PCffWl78TZFl_Jd00NfPU/s1600/IMG_6874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYKx5Iy-YNOkzbw-5XR7YDZusvZ1EOz9cq0-LgWXQQXsjoXqxlciDvI2seUcc0BwBIlYHX6qy-5kKyWOLzIaNzMS-xKSCOrV6hyphenhyphenO4upexSIitttPPVwiaR6PCffWl78TZFl_Jd00NfPU/s640/IMG_6874.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee, keen to get on the bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP58n_ESCxUFn8R0eHTzq3PTeGJwnmYyUg4kCzoxQFnIPC8iqvGsyK93hc3IunleSRBpJO7WzyMBUcel1CEavUJLEfFqkKgi_rZ7dPJpfTNmAQ-jc1FWL5xWHD9HEImWYhN_RS2kdPw4/s1600/IMG_6869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP58n_ESCxUFn8R0eHTzq3PTeGJwnmYyUg4kCzoxQFnIPC8iqvGsyK93hc3IunleSRBpJO7WzyMBUcel1CEavUJLEfFqkKgi_rZ7dPJpfTNmAQ-jc1FWL5xWHD9HEImWYhN_RS2kdPw4/s640/IMG_6869.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6VPKi9c9eYEkQFSwZ04BH-Wi8a_7sQ6-KgO3JwYiR0JIBuZMhEzdQgQifLZl0_843UDCuDs9kcK-AxvuGD_ep_HJUDyZqnPFNMuV5W1HQ4LlREHzeYwm9qmmtK4Daqk-O7njGd7cvI8/s1600/IMG_6896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6VPKi9c9eYEkQFSwZ04BH-Wi8a_7sQ6-KgO3JwYiR0JIBuZMhEzdQgQifLZl0_843UDCuDs9kcK-AxvuGD_ep_HJUDyZqnPFNMuV5W1HQ4LlREHzeYwm9qmmtK4Daqk-O7njGd7cvI8/s640/IMG_6896.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXdeYLexMsDZe1R4T-93uvDIbglagxCurbYK1n2AYWABZ4sB8LnwV0Kk-MCTWOCj0Yke9LyiAn2YZFIK5lShM8vxE3CJwsGqB2dWIaJayIxSJRA1_PHLSft9iOMOZyqsd-wEOC89FwwI/s1600/IMG_6949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXdeYLexMsDZe1R4T-93uvDIbglagxCurbYK1n2AYWABZ4sB8LnwV0Kk-MCTWOCj0Yke9LyiAn2YZFIK5lShM8vxE3CJwsGqB2dWIaJayIxSJRA1_PHLSft9iOMOZyqsd-wEOC89FwwI/s640/IMG_6949.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lee catching dinner.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkKbsHChaQcUeSPaslJgKMuF8ADBFHot0iYWmUUxcbppJi-_5LwpKF5wubLVXHPc6NyOKrrO4DcKkOXYYWwP0GrASwSGn_68t5TAv46bqWTiohvRmhP8ebJMoZ9_VtlEZWk_uN5pvpA8/s1600/IMG_6966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkKbsHChaQcUeSPaslJgKMuF8ADBFHot0iYWmUUxcbppJi-_5LwpKF5wubLVXHPc6NyOKrrO4DcKkOXYYWwP0GrASwSGn_68t5TAv46bqWTiohvRmhP8ebJMoZ9_VtlEZWk_uN5pvpA8/s640/IMG_6966.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out Indiana!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXu-AtRJS8RmZl2LxwfrdGDWrqrbrboYs_2V-CWtuSZDR5glPlSnWYZ4dB86V2yGGOgyoBPefK42Fd6zV-VSrtNjTfPhhufZpPEEd0MYF3h7oOSZP6r3lclr6gDftFSDVd3wwadjcXAs/s1600/IMG_6976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXu-AtRJS8RmZl2LxwfrdGDWrqrbrboYs_2V-CWtuSZDR5glPlSnWYZ4dB86V2yGGOgyoBPefK42Fd6zV-VSrtNjTfPhhufZpPEEd0MYF3h7oOSZP6r3lclr6gDftFSDVd3wwadjcXAs/s640/IMG_6976.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookout point at Drakes Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JgPcjgqaNmuCT6fju9Uk4m9jXTA2i5tnGoMR3pKqfFSjBVVtCjm-BXCnncb3Km2vbW7xIizmrlTjW4TLPkUfyamOdzingXd5C3-xr21b-wdaZuPH06l4b9VZbXKpbjHD6_cQwUEE5iQ/s1600/IMG_6980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JgPcjgqaNmuCT6fju9Uk4m9jXTA2i5tnGoMR3pKqfFSjBVVtCjm-BXCnncb3Km2vbW7xIizmrlTjW4TLPkUfyamOdzingXd5C3-xr21b-wdaZuPH06l4b9VZbXKpbjHD6_cQwUEE5iQ/s640/IMG_6980.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solent anchored in Drakes Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnuduVy4J6Fly8qjecIod3dasETXjN91MMKhPJCcrupptmSA4PH1wP8Xre6MLtoChMUjJ50r5dxRJLJDm_mmTfdc2s8pd1Tg6GmLnhBT-TQz8bZbZQXM5OmwU52ay-sQMd711PpHrUsY/s1600/IMG_6983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnuduVy4J6Fly8qjecIod3dasETXjN91MMKhPJCcrupptmSA4PH1wP8Xre6MLtoChMUjJ50r5dxRJLJDm_mmTfdc2s8pd1Tg6GmLnhBT-TQz8bZbZQXM5OmwU52ay-sQMd711PpHrUsY/s640/IMG_6983.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me checking for creatures before relaxing in this hammock chair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3N4WORL55GQ33cRgAZUbOY9HmEQxu7pIFa8O-GNVEeL_atL-TvhnQRIPH6n7XY8l8wrYEUtocakg37mkivKJqQLLGV6cWWx80pUUt-5v9efoE46gv6W1ME1flWGDNWrQ59GK8xWZpVQ/s1600/IMG_6984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3N4WORL55GQ33cRgAZUbOY9HmEQxu7pIFa8O-GNVEeL_atL-TvhnQRIPH6n7XY8l8wrYEUtocakg37mkivKJqQLLGV6cWWx80pUUt-5v9efoE46gv6W1ME1flWGDNWrQ59GK8xWZpVQ/s640/IMG_6984.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me pretending that the hammock is really comfortable and relaxing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqfYYHJrly-BOt5uRVSqDc_nkReP_lc6XW0iPOEOQ0TmEGM4cV80wA-LNqGQGtuLP-2_o6JdnBY0IZhRYMsQss3yRHDycYO_K6YBI0ALhBhGfsRVwnAp4vSeVsBQacKCr6e0_aAjzGj0/s1600/IMG_6992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqfYYHJrly-BOt5uRVSqDc_nkReP_lc6XW0iPOEOQ0TmEGM4cV80wA-LNqGQGtuLP-2_o6JdnBY0IZhRYMsQss3yRHDycYO_K6YBI0ALhBhGfsRVwnAp4vSeVsBQacKCr6e0_aAjzGj0/s640/IMG_6992.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We didn't find any treasure but we did manage to hunt down this monument presented by the city of Plymouth, England. It translates to something like "Commemorating the ship's visit, Drake, the "Golden Hind" to this bay to source fresh water during his circumnavigation of the globe"<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhvwEldlUrWpFmTj3veZCB3FcWQoV_dV97-g38CAkFQEJ5qyy-AdMhTqPky0Q8RrU_3rAsxcUaRPFoYbeV5V6j59iIu2t97X2GM0iuP3xemjhNq7nO9h_QE69pKjapX9-byY4CDUdO8Q/s1600/IMG_6996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhvwEldlUrWpFmTj3veZCB3FcWQoV_dV97-g38CAkFQEJ5qyy-AdMhTqPky0Q8RrU_3rAsxcUaRPFoYbeV5V6j59iIu2t97X2GM0iuP3xemjhNq7nO9h_QE69pKjapX9-byY4CDUdO8Q/s640/IMG_6996.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kindred spirits?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0Drake Bay, Costa Rica8.6887254 -83.66808758.6808774 -83.677958 8.6965733999999983 -83.658217tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-47079062951478968872012-06-03T19:44:00.000-07:002012-06-03T21:17:56.406-07:00Exploring El Salvador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
El Salvador is a small country and since we were only planning on staying for a short time, we decided to organize a trip inland to optimize what we could see. We decided on an archeological tour of the local Mayan ruins and started investigating the best tour companies. The company we chose had a nice air conditioned van with a brilliant tour guide and driver and we set off early in the morning for our first stop, Joya de Ceren.<br />
<br />
Joya De Ceren is a pre columbian Maya farming village that was preserved by volcanic ash. It was preserved when a volcano in close proximity erupted, forcing the people to flee and leave everything exactly where it was, so you can see exactly how they lived and what they ate. Food was found on plates and soup left in pots over fires, which indicates the haste in which they departed. The farming community of Joya de Ceren was inhabited as early as 900 BC and was evacuated when the nearby volcano erupted in AD 536. Unfortunately only 10 percent of the site is on display. The rest is still underground, left untouched as exposure to the elements has caused those parts that have been exposed to rapidly deteriorate from rain erosion which you can clearly see in the pictures. The ruins should be kept in climate controlled buildings so that they can be properly preserved and protected and the Salvadorians have been heavily critisized by archeologists from other countries because of this. Unfortunately they just don't have the money to do this, so the best way to preserve them is to simply leave them underground for the future. They still struggle to protect these sites from the heavy rain and humidity and have to have a significant army detachment patrol the grounds at night to stop the looters!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcatHRFP52aSBeZYyUxwgM5MfjTpTQ7-oHYkcxr1bLel7PMqWTAmEFRlM_KYHGeTP4QR85IHj0SJuy5eBjIisi3zG3CpPT6FDOqNjNWn7aTYGt_ldR3WtM4C8T8BCIzse00ooXkicjwPE/s1600/IMG_4710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcatHRFP52aSBeZYyUxwgM5MfjTpTQ7-oHYkcxr1bLel7PMqWTAmEFRlM_KYHGeTP4QR85IHj0SJuy5eBjIisi3zG3CpPT6FDOqNjNWn7aTYGt_ldR3WtM4C8T8BCIzse00ooXkicjwPE/s640/IMG_4710.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGnrLzdnca95mK_CoG-W-W9hj5qCOH9mYuS5chJmMt9CP8Db7BbOx61gTGf_x4s67CfR8qVN8Khh73xKlBqs7K_r4lSDXN9TAITPnCupfBSahaDTpAG0yZJ25FY_2hXa8_87-ry7BwGM/s1600/IMG_4712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGnrLzdnca95mK_CoG-W-W9hj5qCOH9mYuS5chJmMt9CP8Db7BbOx61gTGf_x4s67CfR8qVN8Khh73xKlBqs7K_r4lSDXN9TAITPnCupfBSahaDTpAG0yZJ25FY_2hXa8_87-ry7BwGM/s640/IMG_4712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V0f-seR9tGHPwM5Q6Sj9AxI6WGpvOqJh4bzQ1Dz-XZl5MATLyi5NH5znt6Fn-ZdTFBOY9p2QoA1N3_cOL2YHa4SEYwnmSzLzSL50hOxWXW__KNGmTGCUh8VFv_U59CcaSfE6uKMZzQ4/s1600/IMG_4732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V0f-seR9tGHPwM5Q6Sj9AxI6WGpvOqJh4bzQ1Dz-XZl5MATLyi5NH5znt6Fn-ZdTFBOY9p2QoA1N3_cOL2YHa4SEYwnmSzLzSL50hOxWXW__KNGmTGCUh8VFv_U59CcaSfE6uKMZzQ4/s640/IMG_4732.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our guide pointed out this bird, the Torogoz which is the national bird of El Salvador. Apparently it symbolizes family because it participates with its mate in the caring of its young, awwwww.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5AlFr_SoIYmlTObn2jDlcogOo3PeFNIvB19m0KTQdPctWeT0JEJwSObx90oNsNLMeg4RiAFiztXlAkJ2OHxQiJrEJtCZ3StU-Ndy_h9sIJWj7I0kQrpKapltxGuMNeTpPsdpmhiJ65Q/s1600/IMG_4735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5AlFr_SoIYmlTObn2jDlcogOo3PeFNIvB19m0KTQdPctWeT0JEJwSObx90oNsNLMeg4RiAFiztXlAkJ2OHxQiJrEJtCZ3StU-Ndy_h9sIJWj7I0kQrpKapltxGuMNeTpPsdpmhiJ65Q/s640/IMG_4735.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is an ancient steam room. The Mayans believed that you could sweat out your demons or illness, so they would crawl through the very small doorway and sit in this steam room. The circular thing on top was used to control the climate as a pressure release valve...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO9eW6GHzswFqG5v-LYqJB0CRuiOvTPuNoRL9X92UP7dcnA0WHrzfTr-XG31ve1NOOtS5XaZ2TEYrxCGbujp3EO8y8uuUAf9REneYduuFC5oe4cjRMmt15_oywi6ZAgVL7F14w1tEMNs/s1600/IMG_4750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO9eW6GHzswFqG5v-LYqJB0CRuiOvTPuNoRL9X92UP7dcnA0WHrzfTr-XG31ve1NOOtS5XaZ2TEYrxCGbujp3EO8y8uuUAf9REneYduuFC5oe4cjRMmt15_oywi6ZAgVL7F14w1tEMNs/s640/IMG_4750.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a Cocoa pod. Yes its chocolate in its rawest form and apparently this was the inspiration behind the coca cola bottle.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsBlt119JQ4H6j24b5I1jE_4g7w1cVhrBnItBDcaFmD4DkvdkEM5fFcaBiYOON5UIQc48R1hRiTuLWtZ5DF3WVMeg_LCRLqbOkyK7B7cAl82I5L3AWPrxXGNmSLDR_RNnE_9CUH7CUVI/s1600/IMG_4761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsBlt119JQ4H6j24b5I1jE_4g7w1cVhrBnItBDcaFmD4DkvdkEM5fFcaBiYOON5UIQc48R1hRiTuLWtZ5DF3WVMeg_LCRLqbOkyK7B7cAl82I5L3AWPrxXGNmSLDR_RNnE_9CUH7CUVI/s640/IMG_4761.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here you can see three structures, at the back there's a bedroom where you can see the bed. In the middle is a store room and the in the front is the kitchen area. The rooms were all separate incase of fire, very sensible. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhx7UY7g65ZBBRGnxJIV1eR5VAUgAo702zcW-tRbQDIJt6BYiJA_TJuEKgoxyNB4WSqjMGhUtT2kQW4svlD2YfdKqFexSHvElW3wvh9w733v-g2EpgjkKqb1fa1gsYB9Cn60OWv7zODk/s1600/IMG_4769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhx7UY7g65ZBBRGnxJIV1eR5VAUgAo702zcW-tRbQDIJt6BYiJA_TJuEKgoxyNB4WSqjMGhUtT2kQW4svlD2YfdKqFexSHvElW3wvh9w733v-g2EpgjkKqb1fa1gsYB9Cn60OWv7zODk/s640/IMG_4769.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This building is where the people would visit for the telling of their future. It was very much like the Catholic confessional with the priest in a separate room.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTpKC3nsM35GcOvngb25kkzJG5twLeWvvGH88LALQxjDNgU_LFlD1KbEWqVi99ewB2WoOw_IXOMOt5tS4RJ8xp_J5mAM2Hpe5KQBGuoQ5DwC3Nb2dHbpuHpNSM6A-gR1cbNB34sKSUhk/s1600/IMG_4774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTpKC3nsM35GcOvngb25kkzJG5twLeWvvGH88LALQxjDNgU_LFlD1KbEWqVi99ewB2WoOw_IXOMOt5tS4RJ8xp_J5mAM2Hpe5KQBGuoQ5DwC3Nb2dHbpuHpNSM6A-gR1cbNB34sKSUhk/s640/IMG_4774.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a ripe Cocoa pod.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQgjBxMpfj8lZFVrHaqOVN9H0wosBY4PaqN5nYbhPEJJ2zbC85G-n-SGHrlfQYbpC5FU3RSrMxqITmqZVyk83dRiuLPHeAfaSErT0zQGd9E8_7-FH2EHcsrT0PA7lroDvDCrJ8OuhmNY/s1600/IMG_4782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQgjBxMpfj8lZFVrHaqOVN9H0wosBY4PaqN5nYbhPEJJ2zbC85G-n-SGHrlfQYbpC5FU3RSrMxqITmqZVyk83dRiuLPHeAfaSErT0zQGd9E8_7-FH2EHcsrT0PA7lroDvDCrJ8OuhmNY/s640/IMG_4782.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Coffee</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After Joya De Ceren we visited San Andres which is where the political and ceremonial sites are located. The granduer of these sites is more evident as this was the residence of kings. The kings maintained their dominence from their superior knowledge. The kings knew when there would be a full moon and solar eclipse, so the people thought that they had direct communication with the gods.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphQmYVNng4kToFpDAz-r9Q-ecT9An7Ixp6BuH2SZW21yrl_LSgSByEoUWZX1uJd6IFlZFjHQ26VEVJjT6JVDDqFZTmpV8GdbXn_vtgS5j8umULliHwa2_0mCKPYdV8vFPZixAzfBDljU/s1600/IMG_4791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphQmYVNng4kToFpDAz-r9Q-ecT9An7Ixp6BuH2SZW21yrl_LSgSByEoUWZX1uJd6IFlZFjHQ26VEVJjT6JVDDqFZTmpV8GdbXn_vtgS5j8umULliHwa2_0mCKPYdV8vFPZixAzfBDljU/s640/IMG_4791.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuGuMlYIPAkY9FGrT7AyRPncWrpgYs4KnpU2laNKpNezHOhwBmNFl0T8tXLz8E8Ax0kgeanwnS5GMMD_inwIhVePAl5OuslJw_1FTpF7zdnaL5-ssWLZZMA2S__bLJE9Cz4XDMw4fCWg/s1600/IMG_4795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuGuMlYIPAkY9FGrT7AyRPncWrpgYs4KnpU2laNKpNezHOhwBmNFl0T8tXLz8E8Ax0kgeanwnS5GMMD_inwIhVePAl5OuslJw_1FTpF7zdnaL5-ssWLZZMA2S__bLJE9Cz4XDMw4fCWg/s640/IMG_4795.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AmBofzGI3QcYpyXHQNHMjWv8Q6gyJ6ClBjsZsAKWhRhLDQav5qPMfW8T6C05B4Vf9FcSCl9o9QRMMW8Z9QUoo_9UX5oB74UABjA0lXby_p4f-Hg1n6-1MLNoBj8zi8-tFvhyqqJ60tc/s1600/IMG_4802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AmBofzGI3QcYpyXHQNHMjWv8Q6gyJ6ClBjsZsAKWhRhLDQav5qPMfW8T6C05B4Vf9FcSCl9o9QRMMW8Z9QUoo_9UX5oB74UABjA0lXby_p4f-Hg1n6-1MLNoBj8zi8-tFvhyqqJ60tc/s640/IMG_4802.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next on the list was a p<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">anoramic visit to Coatepeque lake. This lake is fabulous and has been a popular site for Salvadorian honeymooners for centuries. I can see why.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1iwpO86HYLCi-N32L2tJci9vuq2lipUONZoNML3fDjgm509838X96fCgxZb_9lZRYoTQ_Ict9ba7ORq4GqHq6zWL3k6V-E1vift1sp56dqSVoB0ZhstKLL9ssy8n5pVszwo5QCvWuA0/s1600/IMG_4830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1iwpO86HYLCi-N32L2tJci9vuq2lipUONZoNML3fDjgm509838X96fCgxZb_9lZRYoTQ_Ict9ba7ORq4GqHq6zWL3k6V-E1vift1sp56dqSVoB0ZhstKLL9ssy8n5pVszwo5QCvWuA0/s640/IMG_4830.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Next we visited Santa Ana city.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j9_-N-BeSoegtAZ2EEMOTlUhfkEt720Mub0Ed_ytcZgs8kP2qvXXyNwZCPWpqYP1mdd9UUvL_f_VquOtYySYPEsCe6uvTqofDw1cUU8wnAJX-56rCCk0ZvWX9FuoPDcTNy1zvRjhVoI/s1600/IMG_4860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j9_-N-BeSoegtAZ2EEMOTlUhfkEt720Mub0Ed_ytcZgs8kP2qvXXyNwZCPWpqYP1mdd9UUvL_f_VquOtYySYPEsCe6uvTqofDw1cUU8wnAJX-56rCCk0ZvWX9FuoPDcTNy1zvRjhVoI/s640/IMG_4860.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfM33Z3yd5N7qZ9FpaMolm_5__V-xYsUsZzj5VPu9pGv-iJXzLR8y2BivpMomxE5litIwrdiFQcuVnv-45EYBzAFz14PcnuXxc94Dszj1px8nG7V8Nrczclch9K02fV6j-CRYuv9Bp1I/s1600/IMG_4862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfM33Z3yd5N7qZ9FpaMolm_5__V-xYsUsZzj5VPu9pGv-iJXzLR8y2BivpMomxE5litIwrdiFQcuVnv-45EYBzAFz14PcnuXxc94Dszj1px8nG7V8Nrczclch9K02fV6j-CRYuv9Bp1I/s640/IMG_4862.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Ana Theatre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nHz71eK0xtNuVTxkJKyeVA3dKkg-GTSFs7iavMUnGAdJxyk-5ASw9DOmrLUU2YU1g-taxClZV93LWS51wvnJE__x7IX9ME7W656qWNxKYRyQlXiHydbpuTFnekrS6dEityTrZbUnCgQ/s1600/IMG_4877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nHz71eK0xtNuVTxkJKyeVA3dKkg-GTSFs7iavMUnGAdJxyk-5ASw9DOmrLUU2YU1g-taxClZV93LWS51wvnJE__x7IX9ME7W656qWNxKYRyQlXiHydbpuTFnekrS6dEityTrZbUnCgQ/s640/IMG_4877.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0MI4tjKozuduaU6Ltwhp2WU0s8cZahSmk8u1Y-0ZoHHHDNuAQiZmRp4iATATTF2Aql-HQ57rCN1H9ZGrqtz2hDanA_2CpAfB79nmTnROXh0G9ieRdRE50NnfC1adlZTv_SDQYHn75s8/s1600/IMG_4885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0MI4tjKozuduaU6Ltwhp2WU0s8cZahSmk8u1Y-0ZoHHHDNuAQiZmRp4iATATTF2Aql-HQ57rCN1H9ZGrqtz2hDanA_2CpAfB79nmTnROXh0G9ieRdRE50NnfC1adlZTv_SDQYHn75s8/s640/IMG_4885.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our guide pointed of the cashew fruit. Did you know that the cashew nut grows just underneath this orange cashew fruit? I had no idea. The Salvadorian people eat both the fruit and the nut. You can see the nut shell just underneath the fruit. The nut is poisonous until it is roasted and only then is it safe to eat. I always wondered why cashew nuts were so expensive. Can you imagine how many of these you would have to pick and roast to make a a jar of nuts!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We bought a large bag from a local street merchant and suddenly didn't feel bad at all for spending $5 for a bag of cashews! This guy weighed them out with copper weights on a hanging scale.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcnCJO_0l2pxq9z338yorNoe8qQN68biw5Sn-ckmB5sI1E4-Psxcl1uwu6GrxlEVBKUE4PHoi5_4vV0LKXG-NTKvwoguLVnly8-Kq5C1x2kEOd12XTrs-taLk5r9pkDapnlfsgYDV6bk/s1600/IMG_4945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcnCJO_0l2pxq9z338yorNoe8qQN68biw5Sn-ckmB5sI1E4-Psxcl1uwu6GrxlEVBKUE4PHoi5_4vV0LKXG-NTKvwoguLVnly8-Kq5C1x2kEOd12XTrs-taLk5r9pkDapnlfsgYDV6bk/s640/IMG_4945.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our final stop was a visit to the Tazumal archaeological site</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7KDt3slcxae4Rh3tEO_SvfBJ-gTjygxQj8jUx1aj_3ySTxGlMNYROBrbdgYgLy3aBUpVfdRRrSGlxUzE0_zdHaEbzUq8bzr1rbip_xDrdFVUP1JZlx_oYESSQVIFVc3pVRYFTWe8AdY/s1600/IMG_4921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7KDt3slcxae4Rh3tEO_SvfBJ-gTjygxQj8jUx1aj_3ySTxGlMNYROBrbdgYgLy3aBUpVfdRRrSGlxUzE0_zdHaEbzUq8bzr1rbip_xDrdFVUP1JZlx_oYESSQVIFVc3pVRYFTWe8AdY/s640/IMG_4921.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvCNzxGoZsN1j7egDfDl656obw1J5EovNCk4G1ftPkyQD3aIHGR-0YuyDTstycaEGj-LK0YmsJA8Ej9m7RkX-zmFpVpBXP-oSaP1T11kAkUvKqjR4csQqd_vVGgYeWkfKIz04FwPtQlE/s1600/IMG_4927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvCNzxGoZsN1j7egDfDl656obw1J5EovNCk4G1ftPkyQD3aIHGR-0YuyDTstycaEGj-LK0YmsJA8Ej9m7RkX-zmFpVpBXP-oSaP1T11kAkUvKqjR4csQqd_vVGgYeWkfKIz04FwPtQlE/s640/IMG_4927.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Human sacrifice was performed on the chest like platform at the top of the stairs. The priest would stand in-between the two large rectangular boxes with each have two holes in the top and bottom which would act like speakers! Apparently the amplification was amazing and Lee is going to investigate how this works as it's amazing for it's time!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdZXMbhl2daPvHKHBYKzL44NHymM2lYeVYW3FdUuqxFBgLF0FNa9D-7JT5RIl9p7fb0uYJ21OOOlIQdQvMhC_1FRoO82RkqeLY3I8KE-Xa4t6YZsen_rp4C5EMUYr0x-EKO_rlEehL1g/s1600/IMG_4941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdZXMbhl2daPvHKHBYKzL44NHymM2lYeVYW3FdUuqxFBgLF0FNa9D-7JT5RIl9p7fb0uYJ21OOOlIQdQvMhC_1FRoO82RkqeLY3I8KE-Xa4t6YZsen_rp4C5EMUYr0x-EKO_rlEehL1g/s640/IMG_4941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLolyDoHxnNzwyXvx8CN6ofc7TZ31VPAuz0Mgjt0sPiZa5M2nclUlxdYnVsWuIdlCyhSHNwf5nfXksm_oTba7tp35RiJPCeUG5vLLgHisTpj3OFj285uswprWkYBhF6JVEJSE5z03gu8/s1600/IMG_4943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLolyDoHxnNzwyXvx8CN6ofc7TZ31VPAuz0Mgjt0sPiZa5M2nclUlxdYnVsWuIdlCyhSHNwf5nfXksm_oTba7tp35RiJPCeUG5vLLgHisTpj3OFj285uswprWkYBhF6JVEJSE5z03gu8/s640/IMG_4943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-14560614033452074372012-05-17T13:45:00.001-07:002012-05-17T13:45:34.530-07:00Solent is almost ready to leave El SalvadorWe have finally put the name on the boat (5 years late) and done a lot of maintenance to Solent while enjoying our stay at Bahia del Sol. We have upgraded the pump for the Air con so we are now fine in the warmer waters of the tropics, repaired the outboard fuel line which was broken in large swell, arranged for Solent to have its bottom cleaned and zinc's changed (tomorrow), the shelf is back up after falling in some big waves and the cracked radar mount has been fixed. <br />
<br />
Seeing the Port Captain in an hour to check out of the country and immigration in the morning before heading to Costa Rica via a run down the coast of Nicaragua, but first a much needed beer and lunch down the estuary from our marina following a successful dingy test!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeTr5gV7bxxACLt99FVsmww6ijGv5zCIsx7GLIWZ4vIS54VNbaqR5eXDRhxXciKTVI1qjt3ewjn-XzDfFoby9Ud0h36FIMUs1JlsyKssMUOnR3lelc2JPy4JIqM627aEivYCtsQcr7S4/s640/blogger-image-1801157999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeTr5gV7bxxACLt99FVsmww6ijGv5zCIsx7GLIWZ4vIS54VNbaqR5eXDRhxXciKTVI1qjt3ewjn-XzDfFoby9Ud0h36FIMUs1JlsyKssMUOnR3lelc2JPy4JIqM627aEivYCtsQcr7S4/s640/blogger-image-1801157999.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD65YVzI5S99pSeK2aRJQfq6eszZ2xhbTQtHWD_YMB_qe4i72IvHrwaSLn_4iKGjmu14Kt5EUvoCJLogqRh8ouz31q7MwiBxots3sloHDI19fofvHwKYRff5HipPJBU0QUtZzdXgU8S94/s640/blogger-image-45184231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD65YVzI5S99pSeK2aRJQfq6eszZ2xhbTQtHWD_YMB_qe4i72IvHrwaSLn_4iKGjmu14Kt5EUvoCJLogqRh8ouz31q7MwiBxots3sloHDI19fofvHwKYRff5HipPJBU0QUtZzdXgU8S94/s640/blogger-image-45184231.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAFuwLmoCoLb5hMcltBL7u1iPQzZAYXH5hCo3GKPyGlIvgcMEmfBsuPt8vMNpozgaaH0ettEVIIzUXmL14zIZO7rthzORadiZTw4G3T34Hop9kPc6MgLvFkHXYYUyj94KluZVGLGBO30/s640/blogger-image--2028922365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAFuwLmoCoLb5hMcltBL7u1iPQzZAYXH5hCo3GKPyGlIvgcMEmfBsuPt8vMNpozgaaH0ettEVIIzUXmL14zIZO7rthzORadiZTw4G3T34Hop9kPc6MgLvFkHXYYUyj94KluZVGLGBO30/s640/blogger-image--2028922365.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-83710943415940733432012-05-13T17:39:00.003-07:002012-05-13T17:39:57.126-07:00I forgot to mention my new bag<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in Mexico, my wonderful husband bought me this new organic leather purse. Amazingly he found it in a hardware store whilst looking for some epoxy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0wbgt_zQZ-BjbGFaHc1MDn64trUKlgPuCNEoI6dedlhLwjF81BgRIB6d-gKUUq9-U3lcC60vvtB-SwRUrOIpPEkxk4p8IVHd-JAlLfRL6IV1NaLkJFm_RTmGWGHktQ-W7N0HTk3hyIQ/s1600/IMG_0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0wbgt_zQZ-BjbGFaHc1MDn64trUKlgPuCNEoI6dedlhLwjF81BgRIB6d-gKUUq9-U3lcC60vvtB-SwRUrOIpPEkxk4p8IVHd-JAlLfRL6IV1NaLkJFm_RTmGWGHktQ-W7N0HTk3hyIQ/s640/IMG_0209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1Tj_hAb_6us3jJWf_ukCy-oOWZzNPGtYANSzoIRmTtLQbbStz0abRlxrObwb7mu5Fg9XrmKTQoSPNcLiaV9piA0zbsdST9Fs8HdQwS4danCwlJX9LYBhXDBKd84f43F1EYHBeDVb3fw/s1600/Ball+bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1Tj_hAb_6us3jJWf_ukCy-oOWZzNPGtYANSzoIRmTtLQbbStz0abRlxrObwb7mu5Fg9XrmKTQoSPNcLiaV9piA0zbsdST9Fs8HdQwS4danCwlJX9LYBhXDBKd84f43F1EYHBeDVb3fw/s640/Ball+bags.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-10830660261422067632012-05-13T12:06:00.002-07:002012-05-13T16:33:18.767-07:00San Salvador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We headed into to the capital of El Salvador today. It was mainly a provisioning run to Walmart for Groceries and to see if we could pick up new pump for the Air-Conditioning unit. With the increased water temperature now >90 Degrees F (32 C), the AC has been struggling to get get rid of the heat and shutting down. A higher flow rate pump is required so we were trying our best to track one down.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3agJH6L0PFoy-tO3WUUfAuvHS83duJcaqTYNErAN-A1wD97apOBvj0esdnYu3EcwQE3P29Tx-9FeaFdcXzm7xlE2i0sfWn_QKe5IN0yDpZx8FDC8KL56lukllY7cP34sJ6nzAa5P8aY/s1600/P1090305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3agJH6L0PFoy-tO3WUUfAuvHS83duJcaqTYNErAN-A1wD97apOBvj0esdnYu3EcwQE3P29Tx-9FeaFdcXzm7xlE2i0sfWn_QKe5IN0yDpZx8FDC8KL56lukllY7cP34sJ6nzAa5P8aY/s640/P1090305.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did manage to include a few sites though and took a trip to the number two attraction in San Salvador which is the church Iglesia Elrosario. When we arrived, it didn't look like much from the outside, more like a bomb shelter than a church so we thought we might be in the wrong place.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdpkF1koDyGmpmjjkuZO5qZ529ioPWiu45t0YSHRSV5w1TlFwz7lmKGlH4upxS-ZnQIcd3l421aN_F3XWNKn1WGbUsPh8llR0oM9o964J1Wtcyc274vyaq1rV3F4c60qSls2YZdTo_3M/s1600/P1090311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdpkF1koDyGmpmjjkuZO5qZ529ioPWiu45t0YSHRSV5w1TlFwz7lmKGlH4upxS-ZnQIcd3l421aN_F3XWNKn1WGbUsPh8llR0oM9o964J1Wtcyc274vyaq1rV3F4c60qSls2YZdTo_3M/s640/P1090311.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we went inside we found something totally unique and quite amazing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxDEiTUcIW8-J5nNK6tgYWFz5ntQ4DEKAxl4V0mxQQNWFV9DO2tKWL37K2uDmtzMiks4QVI7WcJqfpXK4I-QMSxQUIn1Paa91FSLDZTjG_7hUNjaWoAhKKahBi5PrXFt4BMK3IO2_y6Q/s1600/P1090260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxDEiTUcIW8-J5nNK6tgYWFz5ntQ4DEKAxl4V0mxQQNWFV9DO2tKWL37K2uDmtzMiks4QVI7WcJqfpXK4I-QMSxQUIn1Paa91FSLDZTjG_7hUNjaWoAhKKahBi5PrXFt4BMK3IO2_y6Q/s400/P1090260.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had the most unique stained glass windows on three walls.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93oDcFZbeaWg3K9xN8xmHn55DTSvaawYws5EAZRjOE3lD8LhuOvIu59i8DLF3uCRQJxOVDj7ZMxunXWBuvoqhrqtdB0ua8RFZtPbgR_yE3HzQgI-xRXXhmq_dwUlaofZk1bI4doPeJTk/s1600/P1090266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiCOGE7WlcILPtNTgXpYd4V6KniJmskULJ4Oc2nBC61gRslZ20KfFTEBa3ZeRFyzEgelHpzcgv5E0kb6FzfkYR4AKQHDVsDbHPmCnGm8WVIb9MmMkCehA87vx-3Cv6qfAqaxRQQP351A/s1600/P1090276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiCOGE7WlcILPtNTgXpYd4V6KniJmskULJ4Oc2nBC61gRslZ20KfFTEBa3ZeRFyzEgelHpzcgv5E0kb6FzfkYR4AKQHDVsDbHPmCnGm8WVIb9MmMkCehA87vx-3Cv6qfAqaxRQQP351A/s320/P1090276.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93oDcFZbeaWg3K9xN8xmHn55DTSvaawYws5EAZRjOE3lD8LhuOvIu59i8DLF3uCRQJxOVDj7ZMxunXWBuvoqhrqtdB0ua8RFZtPbgR_yE3HzQgI-xRXXhmq_dwUlaofZk1bI4doPeJTk/s320/P1090266.jpg" width="240" /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After picking up a new pump from a great hardware store i decided to pick up some Pupusa's for the trip home from the Pupusa stand by the church.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcRJQyhBOb-qeLAjmuLKY5eh-xlvNVH-qUfIWOyUnBKzWrVuDe-Z82w7hGpGSjLdKHJZw4hUqIWobQNUPcPxLtsQ_BTOGvRo7TDs9eITWnvgeYSCTyzcQFMuX3WgsCgp_xPBlderMSj8/s1600/P1090251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcRJQyhBOb-qeLAjmuLKY5eh-xlvNVH-qUfIWOyUnBKzWrVuDe-Z82w7hGpGSjLdKHJZw4hUqIWobQNUPcPxLtsQ_BTOGvRo7TDs9eITWnvgeYSCTyzcQFMuX3WgsCgp_xPBlderMSj8/s400/P1090251.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to order it was difficult. I tried to order two which i thought was two dollars, but was given back one dollar and given two packs of four Pupusa's. It was a cheap meal as i got 8 Pupusa's and salad for a buck!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbaLEjpaGqwbggfcX7GzJWf2uJzVBz2dtpjEHk82332znkUunyFFGxhYb05IlVLmJ5M2HcOunOyCuA14CLkKFVbS0XouhQSWrF3CKEl9y1-MvyvNLxjVDPXI5qHEBUxIVZOc5NjvAH10/s1600/P1090329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbaLEjpaGqwbggfcX7GzJWf2uJzVBz2dtpjEHk82332znkUunyFFGxhYb05IlVLmJ5M2HcOunOyCuA14CLkKFVbS0XouhQSWrF3CKEl9y1-MvyvNLxjVDPXI5qHEBUxIVZOc5NjvAH10/s400/P1090329.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we got back to the boat it was over 100 Degree's F (38 C) inside the boat. Serena and I got busy installing the new pump as soon as we could so we could cool the boat down.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbV5oAGFGEAqZmHthh83M-OfqgwRDiDmR0wCIYyMdOzMfGRqPg4Oubtx-c_xUd24g5QUE5hzjM9E0m5SQuYmKn5VC4n5yvIPCDajfGYRVGkX-C7UHqiS9JpEyUClLnb_VMzhv6oQ0DoU/s1600/P1090365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbV5oAGFGEAqZmHthh83M-OfqgwRDiDmR0wCIYyMdOzMfGRqPg4Oubtx-c_xUd24g5QUE5hzjM9E0m5SQuYmKn5VC4n5yvIPCDajfGYRVGkX-C7UHqiS9JpEyUClLnb_VMzhv6oQ0DoU/s320/P1090365.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CkZGdUFFSdq_y0z-HvelMz6BOV6uZ1r-MRzEpofWU4ttFpv0iAmOKPtUBc2-KGRQ2m_SdBEgqwhHKjJdbKyGQuJUF6bc5KhWRJY_LB23gBtXFDzgMCZYGQ7TBa9aze9VjllyYRwj4_Y/s1600/P1090363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CkZGdUFFSdq_y0z-HvelMz6BOV6uZ1r-MRzEpofWU4ttFpv0iAmOKPtUBc2-KGRQ2m_SdBEgqwhHKjJdbKyGQuJUF6bc5KhWRJY_LB23gBtXFDzgMCZYGQ7TBa9aze9VjllyYRwj4_Y/s320/P1090363.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had it fitted in a little under an hour and the air con is now working fine. We even got woken up in the middle of the night to a freezing boat that was 60 deg (15 C) so it's working fine again!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-9321257020496485962012-05-13T10:18:00.000-07:002012-05-13T10:35:20.630-07:00The Celeb's of ZacatecolucaShortly after arriving in Bahia Del Sol, Serena and I took a bus into the closest town, Zacatecoluca (Zacate). The other cruisers in the marina had told us that they had done the trip by bus rather than taking a taxi, so we thought we would also try the same. It did involve changing buses half way through the trip which would be challenging as despite our three Spanish lessons we still have little communication skills! We were also told that the town is never really visited by tourists so be prepared to be stared at when we arrived.<br />
<br />
<div>
As we approached the gate to the hotel we heard the horn of the bus blasting as they drove down the street (it is sounded often to let people know it's a approaching). There are not any bus stop signs, but we just waved out to the driver and he stopped for us. I say stop, but we found out that the bus only comes to a complete stop for old ladies and the amount it slows down is dependent on your age. Let's just say that if your a teenage male then it's a run and jump to make your ride!<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqljTX1z1urn3PVwb0vTc3RHbWQWyuAcTDWqB8m3LXUijYjA1LKq2R7BzziC1vA2cshWx2tq0Pl-nayAbxzQ2zYCgwZ4btO4v8poeLyLXGqjLSZ5RM0jI4aNTm1Sv6_zkRDhQfoBiHZxg/s1600/P1090223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqljTX1z1urn3PVwb0vTc3RHbWQWyuAcTDWqB8m3LXUijYjA1LKq2R7BzziC1vA2cshWx2tq0Pl-nayAbxzQ2zYCgwZ4btO4v8poeLyLXGqjLSZ5RM0jI4aNTm1Sv6_zkRDhQfoBiHZxg/s200/P1090223.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKxPoYhwzZasZeZBzJzbGuJ5kKINClEE-_5eo5C8LidzBQWdFAgqCdPKPTeWje3pFMnXt8siWQJMrUSsW0JzqCPsMaHkVSGJqjrcbQ_lF0AdutD2-t08CYhdyuxMghUs9azZ1n_o1Plk/s1600/P1090221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKxPoYhwzZasZeZBzJzbGuJ5kKINClEE-_5eo5C8LidzBQWdFAgqCdPKPTeWje3pFMnXt8siWQJMrUSsW0JzqCPsMaHkVSGJqjrcbQ_lF0AdutD2-t08CYhdyuxMghUs9azZ1n_o1Plk/s400/P1090221.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqljTX1z1urn3PVwb0vTc3RHbWQWyuAcTDWqB8m3LXUijYjA1LKq2R7BzziC1vA2cshWx2tq0Pl-nayAbxzQ2zYCgwZ4btO4v8poeLyLXGqjLSZ5RM0jI4aNTm1Sv6_zkRDhQfoBiHZxg/s1600/P1090223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The other patrons were surprised when we got on, but everyone was friendly enough. Soon after a man came down the bus shaking some coins in his hands and saying something in Spanish. We weren't sure if he was selling something or acting in some official capacity, but everyone else was giving him some coins so i gave him a dollar for Serena and I and he seemed happy and carried on. Definitely a cheap way to travel.<br /><br />We had to change buses half way through in a place called Arco. Even we could understand this meant arch and is essentially where one road crosses over another under an arched bridge. This is the main bus change point and Serena and I joined our fellow travelers with their bundles of sticks, livestock and replacement car parts as we all scrambled up a dirt path up the hill to the road above us and our change point.<br /><br />When we got to the top of the hill a man was calling out Zecate, Zecate which is a short form of Zacatecoluca. We quickly jumped on the bus which had a Real Madrid football scarf across the front, stuffed animals hanging from the roof, dance music blasting from the stereo and flashing lights. This bus drove as fast you'd imagine a mobile dance club would and we were soon in Zacatecoluca and jumped off on the main street.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mkWuMZ-OEB55C891-xK9Dk66SLnLtFtcOguXHUcBJ8gQmGGYNluACXkmGN4-90PytpDi7nSQC7r_wNQmhyuH5Q7OnyA0S2fREdiceFRiB6iau_OjzYygJZLdtKwUCy15Ah80j55gIss/s1600/P1090203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mkWuMZ-OEB55C891-xK9Dk66SLnLtFtcOguXHUcBJ8gQmGGYNluACXkmGN4-90PytpDi7nSQC7r_wNQmhyuH5Q7OnyA0S2fREdiceFRiB6iau_OjzYygJZLdtKwUCy15Ah80j55gIss/s400/P1090203.jpg" /></a></div>
As soon as we jumped off all heads turned our way and a girl came running up to us and started pointing at her camera and wanted to take pictures of us. Serena had a number taken of her first before she started taking pictures of me. She seemed pretty overwhelmed by it all and we quickly headed down the road before word got out. Everyone seemed friendly enough and a lot of people just wanted to come up and talk to us, but with my Spanish limited to being able to order beers and them having no english we weren't able to communicate effectively. They didn't have any beers with them so i just smiled. <br /><br />
<br />
You can buy all sorts of things in Zecate. Baby chicks were a big item on the streets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLCD61EhTS6BsITerLDfGnMGDRQD1B5vS1OJveRQWgK5Tf9dDHG-8e_nNeKbVofYpy3UMKqfyr1o71zzEcBkn7aNP5ao4Z4bG2QtVIzgFkWKfBIiO3XC2vNX8ELDcyVFtR5fajDhjm_g/s1600/P1090213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLCD61EhTS6BsITerLDfGnMGDRQD1B5vS1OJveRQWgK5Tf9dDHG-8e_nNeKbVofYpy3UMKqfyr1o71zzEcBkn7aNP5ao4Z4bG2QtVIzgFkWKfBIiO3XC2vNX8ELDcyVFtR5fajDhjm_g/s320/P1090213.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />If Serena had had her way on the trip so far we would have had three puppies, two chicks, a parrot and a lizard! Thank goodness that quarantine procedures between countries make such discussions quick and we still have no pets onboard Solent.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyi9h_vNugOOwh7H6uapZoSxBbtXfoCDXvFgOGfgXJCvO43LOXGb5Ot9N7gABbHPhrVlt1UaHZE56T6y7QAH9Od5gXvurT8XKn08OqTHnuNOhl0xp4UNbcwM8AtRyMSMru4RYE23z2yA/s1600/P1090210.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyi9h_vNugOOwh7H6uapZoSxBbtXfoCDXvFgOGfgXJCvO43LOXGb5Ot9N7gABbHPhrVlt1UaHZE56T6y7QAH9Od5gXvurT8XKn08OqTHnuNOhl0xp4UNbcwM8AtRyMSMru4RYE23z2yA/s320/P1090210.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyznMR8vLhVLtyPANQYbZJ7ZAbs6_-nihwIUpLSXLR74z2xGdxSQfkY1auW4RvLEBC__TQ4JQA3dq3Vz010ESCzRKd2QkeWgRuEEWER0IV1rMyg2XyiZsAXoo0IRaajwOYHrunPgqRE3Y/s1600/P1090211+-+Version+2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyznMR8vLhVLtyPANQYbZJ7ZAbs6_-nihwIUpLSXLR74z2xGdxSQfkY1auW4RvLEBC__TQ4JQA3dq3Vz010ESCzRKd2QkeWgRuEEWER0IV1rMyg2XyiZsAXoo0IRaajwOYHrunPgqRE3Y/s320/P1090211+-+Version+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />All the stalls seemed to specialize in torches, radio's and TV aerials. Amazingly they all seemed to sell the same items with very little differentiation between each stall.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4mFr_Refb_g-4dlRiTThMOBgOJri6y6URBaophqnuUn8DsVM7OxrZFldoJw7u_xVPGlw24N1qMW93UnUlJhhQ5ZYLSyrXCHbNyxmlFq8a7SA265Rhr9EJpM7UXtRnX7Tg5qM5Ky4j-Q/s1600/P1090322.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4mFr_Refb_g-4dlRiTThMOBgOJri6y6URBaophqnuUn8DsVM7OxrZFldoJw7u_xVPGlw24N1qMW93UnUlJhhQ5ZYLSyrXCHbNyxmlFq8a7SA265Rhr9EJpM7UXtRnX7Tg5qM5Ky4j-Q/s640/P1090322.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We didn't buy much, but i did take a look at some really cheap Swiss watches!<br /><br /><br /> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU-8Oc43tpbWMWZP7iummhAILA779GLrX_RxxhOumCTIornLNN25PzdYeGjOZzThdVTK4eSJd5Co_BFIa6p0Dx6o0IPOwvAOmj7NHl1zAfrkN4jDBw0h0oyTlprOi8Vl3EauaBn_FPMQ/s1600/P1090328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU-8Oc43tpbWMWZP7iummhAILA779GLrX_RxxhOumCTIornLNN25PzdYeGjOZzThdVTK4eSJd5Co_BFIa6p0Dx6o0IPOwvAOmj7NHl1zAfrkN4jDBw0h0oyTlprOi8Vl3EauaBn_FPMQ/s640/P1090328.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These types of buses take people to places where the main buses don't go</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />They say everyone has five minutes of fame and we more than used all that up in Zacatecoluca!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-6051079832466200572012-05-13T08:58:00.000-07:002012-05-13T08:58:13.534-07:00Bahia Del SolWe have been in El Salvador for a week now and have spent lots of time landlubbing. The marina is part of a hotel complex named Bahia Del Sol that is mostly used by more wealthy Salvadorians that own time share's. We have the boat in a slip, but there are also mooring buoys close by with which you can pay a small daily fee to use the hotel facilities. The hotel has a nice restaurant and two swimming pools, one overlooking the marina and the other overlooking the beach. Lee is loving the $1 beers.<br />
<br />
On Monday we explored the hotel and took a walk around the surrounding area.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3XPE5okpGL0h58KNwXlnVZLKiPqUzyBL3y30s0zMPkXcumW5zQLgV4i3lVdwxvdOicVfaXhCs5hNOeUmNkdEbf4-vKJVO4CGcIgrWEb_c9Q16LWIuBE5zbtzDD2LuMcQPN1NDxMjNFw/s1600/IMG_4572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3XPE5okpGL0h58KNwXlnVZLKiPqUzyBL3y30s0zMPkXcumW5zQLgV4i3lVdwxvdOicVfaXhCs5hNOeUmNkdEbf4-vKJVO4CGcIgrWEb_c9Q16LWIuBE5zbtzDD2LuMcQPN1NDxMjNFw/s640/IMG_4572.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Bahia Del Sol<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We took a nice long walk along the beach which is beautiful but covered in debris, mostly huge chunks of wood but there's also an alarming number of shoe soles, apparently good for making fires. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYPxDOcoC7Mb4__wecGEsufA6Fbqw3iWAf_X0Y_-uIwNrB-uanzEKYNuRQ8J-2b79kABJlIYC1yN4joNMwOVpnLqzRUljbPv_nDClhVkCY9CCnp8uRtuqZXxNaReY6WFRik-AQlwClQg/s1600/IMG_4576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYPxDOcoC7Mb4__wecGEsufA6Fbqw3iWAf_X0Y_-uIwNrB-uanzEKYNuRQ8J-2b79kABJlIYC1yN4joNMwOVpnLqzRUljbPv_nDClhVkCY9CCnp8uRtuqZXxNaReY6WFRik-AQlwClQg/s640/IMG_4576.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You cannot swim in the water, if you tried you would probably not make it out alive as the current and waves are so strong. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBPBV0Onpgf97PuoogKsh4aCExW6DgNkAzS04yF3w5waMrQO_kTlbgBv6HPw6B0HN-r_P4_GXsY8SkcOV69pINGS0dgMMNJG9KQT_C5GRS6XdSD38RW4s2xF6sEgke5781JxhopL_5dg/s1600/IMG_4583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBPBV0Onpgf97PuoogKsh4aCExW6DgNkAzS04yF3w5waMrQO_kTlbgBv6HPw6B0HN-r_P4_GXsY8SkcOV69pINGS0dgMMNJG9KQT_C5GRS6XdSD38RW4s2xF6sEgke5781JxhopL_5dg/s640/IMG_4583.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWfqZIQw2JPLyNTXYfgzJBT-XZS0CazcXTBdQRIhcRMWcxH2Px80FfHNay9fLLZA7w8IA7-_YvqEdj5EWNWYYU49TuhbSwh9BnLL6nb769oOchP3cLMxLDuBc27acBf00nNFaNMsGFgw/s1600/IMG_4591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWfqZIQw2JPLyNTXYfgzJBT-XZS0CazcXTBdQRIhcRMWcxH2Px80FfHNay9fLLZA7w8IA7-_YvqEdj5EWNWYYU49TuhbSwh9BnLL6nb769oOchP3cLMxLDuBc27acBf00nNFaNMsGFgw/s640/IMG_4591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is an abandoned boat on the beach which we later found out is used as a platform for a DJ during the weekend beach parties.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowxhqyFM2SKUcEYfJT9EuGlCZ1M4HsHBxaqVip4qYga2ds6AobKUEiKLqUTOTIh9H7p0ZnU3SFKN4U5Xb9UGZYtUmOQ2KnDO-dLyeMLehjp82JCSKh3LwWTeckTKPUcRTMiHkcLiKLww/s1600/IMG_4600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowxhqyFM2SKUcEYfJT9EuGlCZ1M4HsHBxaqVip4qYga2ds6AobKUEiKLqUTOTIh9H7p0ZnU3SFKN4U5Xb9UGZYtUmOQ2KnDO-dLyeMLehjp82JCSKh3LwWTeckTKPUcRTMiHkcLiKLww/s640/IMG_4600.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Katie was very excited to find her first sand dollar. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0JmphvqsW7q8nfaiuXISGliYnIA99PSfPklK3sTECgPIrUFOXV9JrxVdi8hwb5hWDyGaEgtpqEJnzl1cOOmVMXSe18-K3udt6HbUgRBhEhwb_QHcYSHmCbKPFlEHOq38QaP5jDErP8s/s1600/IMG_4604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0JmphvqsW7q8nfaiuXISGliYnIA99PSfPklK3sTECgPIrUFOXV9JrxVdi8hwb5hWDyGaEgtpqEJnzl1cOOmVMXSe18-K3udt6HbUgRBhEhwb_QHcYSHmCbKPFlEHOq38QaP5jDErP8s/s640/IMG_4604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0Kyz6R3wUpXaC317g8S04OPoDT2LmEAqdzn_fqMclxasYe4wForeMfDpXUQ5btFKwyaEExLXEGUFuQaN8Pcu8D7LQoYheDlq23KT9AE3HbN8wmBnN5wwpDMLXLKNhJ0MUHLjH7w4RwY/s1600/IMG_4615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0Kyz6R3wUpXaC317g8S04OPoDT2LmEAqdzn_fqMclxasYe4wForeMfDpXUQ5btFKwyaEExLXEGUFuQaN8Pcu8D7LQoYheDlq23KT9AE3HbN8wmBnN5wwpDMLXLKNhJ0MUHLjH7w4RwY/s640/IMG_4615.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We came across a sunken house that someone had built on the sand! I don't think they dug any foundations which is a shame as the house didn't look too old and was actually very nice. As we approached the house we discovered that it was occupied by a few stray dogs so we quickly backed away and moved on towards a village which was beyond some storm torn palapa restaurants.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5evsoV3GSwgJP2yDTPlsok_phU7INcuSXLnBLB1j0LvVqHlqQvBV7Yj4E1XmwXIdn8vl4pGpt-XQJj6jva70N2hAZe4qhTGjrU8OwDzv0QLb5pD_ZlZi-BhUlQr4JpKAUC8-MCjWErU/s1600/IMG_4622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5evsoV3GSwgJP2yDTPlsok_phU7INcuSXLnBLB1j0LvVqHlqQvBV7Yj4E1XmwXIdn8vl4pGpt-XQJj6jva70N2hAZe4qhTGjrU8OwDzv0QLb5pD_ZlZi-BhUlQr4JpKAUC8-MCjWErU/s640/IMG_4622.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wise man built his house upon the rocks...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0xZY77mAeOycTZx5go3WcjDdwJwWboPSz6CMb23DT8j6-cKWa8wqvZk08kl5DUTqgOpQfEj_zSt-q7OA_K7UcBqGHS1ccmcurvfFy5FOfG37IgGC-leVqR485aragESkE8taUTI53b0/s1600/IMG_4651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0xZY77mAeOycTZx5go3WcjDdwJwWboPSz6CMb23DT8j6-cKWa8wqvZk08kl5DUTqgOpQfEj_zSt-q7OA_K7UcBqGHS1ccmcurvfFy5FOfG37IgGC-leVqR485aragESkE8taUTI53b0/s640/IMG_4651.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading in shore to the village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XZxOFch4I-Ky_x7K3tkC1mlrFZZWvRMfuF-u4sA45cq-h_H3FH7ripyi7aZwBUlgOhWEWzKPkw7GfJYjm9SxjxV4SldjG0aCmn3-6Rbf_7pz-ail9FuHrv_WYpLPJlOofKvLqT_12Xs/s1600/IMG_4660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XZxOFch4I-Ky_x7K3tkC1mlrFZZWvRMfuF-u4sA45cq-h_H3FH7ripyi7aZwBUlgOhWEWzKPkw7GfJYjm9SxjxV4SldjG0aCmn3-6Rbf_7pz-ail9FuHrv_WYpLPJlOofKvLqT_12Xs/s640/IMG_4660.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0r6mMYlOu62ZCpmSa1lagKyR2ayf64KbQgvnl7K1h1388Lcd4uHgtD6haB0QYaibvKWUnPtJJTt_rkaP_9LjwuaIAorhN8d5LnaFR85dzbk6umK547EUqn7gnFy6qVNh_2D85820Hg4/s1600/IMG_4661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0r6mMYlOu62ZCpmSa1lagKyR2ayf64KbQgvnl7K1h1388Lcd4uHgtD6haB0QYaibvKWUnPtJJTt_rkaP_9LjwuaIAorhN8d5LnaFR85dzbk6umK547EUqn7gnFy6qVNh_2D85820Hg4/s640/IMG_4661.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">The following evening we took a walk to the local Pupuseria with a group of cruisers from the marina to try pupusa's. A pupusa is a traditional Salvadoran dish that is made from a thick, hand made corn tortilla and filled with either soft cheese, refried beans, some sort of meat paste or lorocco which is a vine flower bud. Lee and I ordered 5 pupusa's and 2 beers which only cost $5. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">After dinner we walked to the beach where our friend Zack had built a bonfire. </span>Zack had just switched out his kerosene stove for a propane one and wanted to get rid of the huge tank of kerosene that he had on his boat so we all decided that it was a good opportunity to have some beers on the beach while we burnt stuff.<span class="Apple-style-span"> He is sailing across the pacific on his own and is leaving El Salvador any day now. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhqkwupuvY_BXoj7kBPBEX4Mmfq-ptCe5uMk8kO3f1xda5W7IYgfEzGJ_wf0VxhTkqrnWbUOh-xwzxZeDM6y7LRBepqhFXmiI04bTD9i6MS3RMzjNVGar_sVL-EFgJx08RvP26FLys7A/s1600/P1090153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhqkwupuvY_BXoj7kBPBEX4Mmfq-ptCe5uMk8kO3f1xda5W7IYgfEzGJ_wf0VxhTkqrnWbUOh-xwzxZeDM6y7LRBepqhFXmiI04bTD9i6MS3RMzjNVGar_sVL-EFgJx08RvP26FLys7A/s640/P1090153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV8BhnFq55Ii0TDytMMD0DMUjZMXQPHVWuBKVCFEea46U0Xmk494uLV0rdAatHsF9BcooUcr2GDw1n5M5RgiEm6GdRW62ABlPmodFyPVj6N9VLkgFvqwjyAqgZDEr41p8nVW9zKMBcv0/s1600/P1090169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV8BhnFq55Ii0TDytMMD0DMUjZMXQPHVWuBKVCFEea46U0Xmk494uLV0rdAatHsF9BcooUcr2GDw1n5M5RgiEm6GdRW62ABlPmodFyPVj6N9VLkgFvqwjyAqgZDEr41p8nVW9zKMBcv0/s640/P1090169.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eventually the whole tank ended up on the fire </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-16087535674987278292012-05-07T15:49:00.001-07:002012-05-07T19:21:04.433-07:00Surfing Solent into El SalvadorWe have just arrived (yesterday) at our first stop in El Salvador at a marina in Bahia del Sol. This is a marina with a difference as to access it you have to cross a sand bar that has some of the best surf in Central America; were talking some big waves to cross. To get across requires good timing and full speed while riding the surf across the sand bar. I've never taken our boat surfing before so it was an apprehensive time for Serena and I. <br />
<br />
Our guide arrived on a jet ski and after a lot of positioning just behind the breaking waves we were told to gun it at full speed. I slammed the boat to max throttle and we sped towards shore. The wave caught up with us and as we started to surf took us from 7 knots to 11 knots as we rode the wave across. An adrenaline rush to be sure.<br />
<br />
The staff at the hotel and marina we were staying at were there to meet us with cocktails along with the customs and immigration officials. A great start to our stay in El Salvador and time for a much needed rest after a week at sea.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDpIu4_A5DpQ9ODi9rlMRpLizS6lN-Sr3GXwMu2rcwlJzZI5UmUyhGOlEiiqZjUofS8R7tPdzZFdzOCF4La4-7pV0Nkm8sd-T4wO_5nNjV0uPvjoBtGMwizXv3skcFrf_DMJvCKnMZN8/s640/blogger-image-819437579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDpIu4_A5DpQ9ODi9rlMRpLizS6lN-Sr3GXwMu2rcwlJzZI5UmUyhGOlEiiqZjUofS8R7tPdzZFdzOCF4La4-7pV0Nkm8sd-T4wO_5nNjV0uPvjoBtGMwizXv3skcFrf_DMJvCKnMZN8/s640/blogger-image-819437579.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ndRaM4Owkl8XcZgfLOJ5IUd9pxtscMbH9YhLxhrjfyUN4KCgtAsxKLTo0OqfzoMgU7EU4gUgNLAqIg8655uarZ85tmcc_UY023RAqoT2Dp5goTkkTT43zQMBLhXf06_F90uZocrClY/s640/blogger-image--1923832015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ndRaM4Owkl8XcZgfLOJ5IUd9pxtscMbH9YhLxhrjfyUN4KCgtAsxKLTo0OqfzoMgU7EU4gUgNLAqIg8655uarZ85tmcc_UY023RAqoT2Dp5goTkkTT43zQMBLhXf06_F90uZocrClY/s640/blogger-image--1923832015.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DosIEfLe4zQiKRAlaX9oXD4SE0hGcFtVAZozDtOeB4YvhlQn8t34GGJnxwMfMNkBlgPLGDp8IdsBG0qaw4ChSAUqZTYlqOzEayrNty3DJLo9MvIW414FHLZR-rody1tYEbGopmexspc/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DosIEfLe4zQiKRAlaX9oXD4SE0hGcFtVAZozDtOeB4YvhlQn8t34GGJnxwMfMNkBlgPLGDp8IdsBG0qaw4ChSAUqZTYlqOzEayrNty3DJLo9MvIW414FHLZR-rody1tYEbGopmexspc/s640/IMG_4537.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8BXtNldD8Gfe0AyjgYYAwEU3JDf_nhZPTYXruiWYmVMDOAgTteLIh9T-EEH1qMwQDcc4sWH1f27-_qJ9ag-xotpPK4cext2JgBRhAe5vzMgXz3so3jHqsgqjHHDT2RA9QPpVg6Unfws/s640/blogger-image-1289139477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8BXtNldD8Gfe0AyjgYYAwEU3JDf_nhZPTYXruiWYmVMDOAgTteLIh9T-EEH1qMwQDcc4sWH1f27-_qJ9ag-xotpPK4cext2JgBRhAe5vzMgXz3so3jHqsgqjHHDT2RA9QPpVg6Unfws/s640/blogger-image-1289139477.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKMbe2kOszDVgKpcpSzTXZEf0yIRBSyzMrNBLolJshkp0MXzoJFT1vNpjMido7crYivJq92vzVxgJIK5fdxwUx9ahvnl7c0wp61JXR9OnkyAZDESPVKovW0yYm_cCbAYkKePwESHp8gs/s1600/IMG_4547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKMbe2kOszDVgKpcpSzTXZEf0yIRBSyzMrNBLolJshkp0MXzoJFT1vNpjMido7crYivJq92vzVxgJIK5fdxwUx9ahvnl7c0wp61JXR9OnkyAZDESPVKovW0yYm_cCbAYkKePwESHp8gs/s640/IMG_4547.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-1191888385962282882012-05-06T07:37:00.001-07:002012-05-06T07:37:51.510-07:006 days at sea and three country's laterAfter 6 nights at sea we have arrived at Bahia del sol, El Salvador and have just dropped anchor outside the estuary. We have to wait here until high tide which is in about 4 hours time when a pilot on a jet ski will come and guide us in to the channel which is not visible due to the waves and across the sandbar. It's supposed to be an exciting ride in so hopefully we have a smooth approach. <br />
<br />
We encountered our first Pacific squall/thunderstorm off the coast of Guatemala yesterday. We had a good track of it on the radar and was able to head for the narrowest path through to the other side. We had some fairly big seas on the way through with winds of 35 knots and heavy rain, but the boat handled great and it was quite a fun time after 6 days of relatively calm sea. After about 2-3 hours we were through and into calmer waters. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-34813169764374077592012-05-04T15:09:00.001-07:002012-05-04T15:09:57.777-07:00Crossing the borderJust two hrs until we reach the border and then we'll be in Guatemala. Four nights at sea so far and just another two to go before we make El Salvador.<br />
We're sad to loose our buddy boat silver lining after their engine broke but were glad that they were able to tow themselves safely into the marina. We'll be waiting for you in Panama Silver Lining. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-55139648912613189082012-04-30T11:44:00.001-07:002012-04-30T11:46:15.660-07:00Departing Mexico for El SalvadorLast day in Mexico today! Spent the morning with the port capitan and immigration clearing all the paper work. Waiting for customs and immigration to come search the boat later this afternoon. <br />
<br />
We have a four day sail ahead of us to El Salvador and should be transiting along the coast of Guatemala after three days. Weather forecast looks good so we should have a good ride.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1Crucecita Crucecita15.762195 -96.137742tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-40451955417457766702012-04-27T21:34:00.002-07:002012-04-28T08:00:27.718-07:00Ocean Wildlife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ee515Ozyq-Iikktm0U61mZ5oyF7WYwxivOjIdckZa364YXoEolD2z6FdWV8GSGOGNQhnaIpnfWzbvOJhwL6lTtAxRsRY-i01l42YZJ4KmA8TydkC37MQ9FHWocEBbLud9dnxz9_o2o/s1600/IMG_3989+-+Version+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
April 17th<br />
<br />
I took these pictures all in one day on the journey between Zihuatanejo and Isla Grande. An amazing experience. We saw more wildlife in one day than we could have dreamed of.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5Z2tzzYFrLO-a_fc_SfiBH0vH_eYGXQ2SXnZBGhzjGCxNEDQpBoOqH6URl8whvkv0UbUr1duC7cprkqvlzlG2PtOOm6g-w_o_4MuWSJZ2vWMgoRwR6PDr06Orjs4Oj0ImdrtYBGWRzM/s1600/IMG_4007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5Z2tzzYFrLO-a_fc_SfiBH0vH_eYGXQ2SXnZBGhzjGCxNEDQpBoOqH6URl8whvkv0UbUr1duC7cprkqvlzlG2PtOOm6g-w_o_4MuWSJZ2vWMgoRwR6PDr06Orjs4Oj0ImdrtYBGWRzM/s640/IMG_4007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PhSAArrctAMpi-36lQRlOss5gmdzPqSjygzgxGkg7_PAcndP8shW43jUcc8B3Tk8BQdgVDnzHSnomNPOEiTWA66Sq-sPzCHQg1JYTPfbZC5_YPJwj9jkUdbAtzIi4oL5DqjxCxGG050/s1600/IMG_4015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PhSAArrctAMpi-36lQRlOss5gmdzPqSjygzgxGkg7_PAcndP8shW43jUcc8B3Tk8BQdgVDnzHSnomNPOEiTWA66Sq-sPzCHQg1JYTPfbZC5_YPJwj9jkUdbAtzIi4oL5DqjxCxGG050/s640/IMG_4015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunRPz2CfIDc4tRaU2RERcPAwW-6vaOp86Pw85oTDf_tmvQlkjynAl_46i9mPEVJGF6EiA69VJMxYJzBTavegBSm0gshsvbz_I_pB7rvPEJpB8IEmLqRHGYGOVLuS-PXWPSEXgdJf_ALk/s1600/IMG_4031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunRPz2CfIDc4tRaU2RERcPAwW-6vaOp86Pw85oTDf_tmvQlkjynAl_46i9mPEVJGF6EiA69VJMxYJzBTavegBSm0gshsvbz_I_pB7rvPEJpB8IEmLqRHGYGOVLuS-PXWPSEXgdJf_ALk/s640/IMG_4031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rhpAE4dfmZLbHsTLM7CirjEpnLtdC7QrEIVzaZjgqfyvTPD3EF9QAvLjBfbxFAdBAEsDtNp266IoJsWCPLnyRpCPbgkhYYK_mNvazsu6h8yqs9hU69pTsWIZ03IRl5iKEKmKYZ0RHqY/s1600/IMG_4042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rhpAE4dfmZLbHsTLM7CirjEpnLtdC7QrEIVzaZjgqfyvTPD3EF9QAvLjBfbxFAdBAEsDtNp266IoJsWCPLnyRpCPbgkhYYK_mNvazsu6h8yqs9hU69pTsWIZ03IRl5iKEKmKYZ0RHqY/s640/IMG_4042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mK0FwYxAV1w11Uv_lyE960BieNu6-zjzAZ6xcoO1pF_H32IMWGv3X7jMMn8GuROru9GvRRUfelK0X-qRqnzSLrKwo2cWk4qgbmCaEBJKnK3OdnPuZW89j4vCbQfxnvfXElt41uYp7rk/s1600/IMG_4115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mK0FwYxAV1w11Uv_lyE960BieNu6-zjzAZ6xcoO1pF_H32IMWGv3X7jMMn8GuROru9GvRRUfelK0X-qRqnzSLrKwo2cWk4qgbmCaEBJKnK3OdnPuZW89j4vCbQfxnvfXElt41uYp7rk/s640/IMG_4115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGkgXAK1_TEMQSsXF2EerDuG7mSKOIx-IJ7RGNwR2gEGjPhVHmAhgpo0W8S-7A39NxKsWFOvqd7JAUZVWiscG9T4O9iEKO4LLn7Mn9ryRWf16DkgMq5K0ENMrdu4BMqG5f41-pU4GnSU/s1600/IMG_4172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGkgXAK1_TEMQSsXF2EerDuG7mSKOIx-IJ7RGNwR2gEGjPhVHmAhgpo0W8S-7A39NxKsWFOvqd7JAUZVWiscG9T4O9iEKO4LLn7Mn9ryRWf16DkgMq5K0ENMrdu4BMqG5f41-pU4GnSU/s640/IMG_4172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rULO541qaDjSCat1qbfGFusXQ9fQiyG4Ygma0xpVjSgXYwlfjh3V9CAsWDgqx-NcKulvYqFnb1dp8yhnBFHutlbKMh4O2KF1UA2PWZ6honEKe3Bvo67JrUP0JgXnIu66qG2f0CC__uw/s1600/IMG_4174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rULO541qaDjSCat1qbfGFusXQ9fQiyG4Ygma0xpVjSgXYwlfjh3V9CAsWDgqx-NcKulvYqFnb1dp8yhnBFHutlbKMh4O2KF1UA2PWZ6honEKe3Bvo67JrUP0JgXnIu66qG2f0CC__uw/s640/IMG_4174.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d7l4EnajeCCCLkfLI6FF-cOOIj3aj104rmS9Tg6YLi1jQKXNbLiQCcI0lZny0x_GDRIBBjscv43oUxVGTBc0pFxBDD-bfYHqKq1wxo8DfipnCS2kp-VeeBxplzAIse7QQNKQJpVPVj0/s1600/P1080930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d7l4EnajeCCCLkfLI6FF-cOOIj3aj104rmS9Tg6YLi1jQKXNbLiQCcI0lZny0x_GDRIBBjscv43oUxVGTBc0pFxBDD-bfYHqKq1wxo8DfipnCS2kp-VeeBxplzAIse7QQNKQJpVPVj0/s640/P1080930.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQGa8roO5ThHznkIQLon0PFPLL6nQ6OXN8OV3kYwfC8BCod2toKealDtelDB2dyqrkYhYTN44E7QIhAw0Ujy6Sx87q0h2MXINrPS7Mzpe4llCa9pwkqo5gL8dwydsj27pn2dI8-PL6M4/s1600/P1080897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQGa8roO5ThHznkIQLon0PFPLL6nQ6OXN8OV3kYwfC8BCod2toKealDtelDB2dyqrkYhYTN44E7QIhAw0Ujy6Sx87q0h2MXINrPS7Mzpe4llCa9pwkqo5gL8dwydsj27pn2dI8-PL6M4/s640/P1080897.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our second Dolphin fish/Mahi Mahi/Dorado</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgur1C9bUutYyNYP_AydkktBB9mvKG1PC-7jsxRP_l7OZpFw71WQBHjy0ZRt2EgNP76Y0b1Vef2IjMrCBf-jiDmeNjAFaIGtiOWC1FacPC2Q5YIYiOrNNiibEOxxMd7WVaD6VeGY6GgM0I/s1600/P1080899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgur1C9bUutYyNYP_AydkktBB9mvKG1PC-7jsxRP_l7OZpFw71WQBHjy0ZRt2EgNP76Y0b1Vef2IjMrCBf-jiDmeNjAFaIGtiOWC1FacPC2Q5YIYiOrNNiibEOxxMd7WVaD6VeGY6GgM0I/s640/P1080899.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She changed color as she died. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoODXhWxmZfzC8hjS7zecb6Z8cn4KH_riNJNvskfRq34B_NI43It2P3XDkDASUCz8DvEPdPIPKk4WKa54cuPHYvmzJzvGpHir6pEYU0VVFxjK-R1XFpjY7miKq_f9JPT_O7Ihj-Qyfp60/s1600/P1080906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoODXhWxmZfzC8hjS7zecb6Z8cn4KH_riNJNvskfRq34B_NI43It2P3XDkDASUCz8DvEPdPIPKk4WKa54cuPHYvmzJzvGpHir6pEYU0VVFxjK-R1XFpjY7miKq_f9JPT_O7Ihj-Qyfp60/s640/P1080906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We almost caught something big but it got away and left us with a bent hook. This cedar plug was brand new when it went in the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-85452344968081426722012-04-23T07:53:00.001-07:002012-04-23T08:02:05.395-07:00<b>Le Cruz</b><br />
<br />
It did turn out to be a late one at Ana Banana's! It's a famous cruisers hang out and full of character. A number of the old sea dogs still live on at Ana's after their passing with their ashes hung from the roof in Canadian Whiskey sacks!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcCgr_SkwsuDPFhfVC0SWxSo9XWyNpVTHE-DhoJh95xfvT6fARMzERKy806X6kSgvRuB5k_HDuqkUbL3NjMQwDvHSktaOGGmxXR1eZxdIJggdg30nljKC9R6J0kwokLLdn-RLX1eeRc/s1600/P1080738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcCgr_SkwsuDPFhfVC0SWxSo9XWyNpVTHE-DhoJh95xfvT6fARMzERKy806X6kSgvRuB5k_HDuqkUbL3NjMQwDvHSktaOGGmxXR1eZxdIJggdg30nljKC9R6J0kwokLLdn-RLX1eeRc/s640/P1080738.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Previous Patrons live on at Ana's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a great night listening to the band and ended up immortalizing ourselves on their wall along with the Silver Lining crew. We choose the highest free spot available which required some gymnastics to achieve, but it's amazing what you can do after a few Margarita's!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoAbtvUr7C3gpzYba92WmsN5rTTFhMwCkaM5xJ86McJQk_RlQdOGscadqU6DOgt6XVZztGGgM_ggPJbnaQYOjtrImMdXENELrVwrruxyItZgcCouTdAR7B4IF9dnkefl7d_9wd9zr0oc/s1600/P1080734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoAbtvUr7C3gpzYba92WmsN5rTTFhMwCkaM5xJ86McJQk_RlQdOGscadqU6DOgt6XVZztGGgM_ggPJbnaQYOjtrImMdXENELrVwrruxyItZgcCouTdAR7B4IF9dnkefl7d_9wd9zr0oc/s400/P1080734.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv23N0CpPONHZRnvFnEweTR7-D4ZwID-5nH0cVsULHyvi2P8C2-Fyhc8j8CUh6yl8yzFcr7J08xirlYLuDKeGCAWcQiadMKwnnbTMyGvxsxqMmFfhobyh0CA8nsjvzw6CSBVMoC_YlaRg/s1600/P1080728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv23N0CpPONHZRnvFnEweTR7-D4ZwID-5nH0cVsULHyvi2P8C2-Fyhc8j8CUh6yl8yzFcr7J08xirlYLuDKeGCAWcQiadMKwnnbTMyGvxsxqMmFfhobyh0CA8nsjvzw6CSBVMoC_YlaRg/s400/P1080728.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR81CSDMTza7kqKC1tagfJoS9Fjis0iTrw76sXni2PziUBYaOM1X7VbPGfpjR_5WGjd1CEuk8UUX5m88A_dE2Rug4ixPY9cm3Z3DHU_wKKGc4V366wwooOdtye4nxQz-JJuoCfxFxKWR0/s1600/P1080737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR81CSDMTza7kqKC1tagfJoS9Fjis0iTrw76sXni2PziUBYaOM1X7VbPGfpjR_5WGjd1CEuk8UUX5m88A_dE2Rug4ixPY9cm3Z3DHU_wKKGc4V366wwooOdtye4nxQz-JJuoCfxFxKWR0/s640/P1080737.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Navigating back to the boat in the dinghy was a different story. The anchorage was full of boats and trying to find our boats anchor light amongst all the others is a tough task after a night out. It has galvanized me into creating a remote control for the boats anchor light that will make it strobe so we can home in on it!<br />
<br />
<b>Nuevo Vallarta (Puerto Vallarta)</b><br />
We have been out on anchor for about 2 months without staying in a marina and we decided to treat ourselves to a bit of luxury and stay at a marina for a couple of nights. Our friends Octavia and Petter had recommended that we stay at Paradise Village Marina and as per all of their recommendations we were not disappointed. It was a great facility and one that if we had more time we all agreed we could happily spend a month relaxing at. The only negative about this place was the cost of having our laundry done. At the mall that is part of the marina complex, it was $15 per load. We could have bought new clothes for the amount of money we spent.<br />
<br />
We did have to be a bit more careful though as we are now in Crocodile territory!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgKk9OMVE9te2hQDNufasCDMrt3yx_hDuRlLZLE50pqC23Dibn7-0zuZGhHYlhqw3mrbBVU1nv4dz3H-x6JG-YJGgXbv1hnDVeuS5U0f5KVpBv0Y-OHy1Car3EJ8uoICM1C61_0Gf6ls/s1600/P1080759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgKk9OMVE9te2hQDNufasCDMrt3yx_hDuRlLZLE50pqC23Dibn7-0zuZGhHYlhqw3mrbBVU1nv4dz3H-x6JG-YJGgXbv1hnDVeuS5U0f5KVpBv0Y-OHy1Car3EJ8uoICM1C61_0Gf6ls/s640/P1080759.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
There was much to explore in this area so we rented some wheels to get us around. We took the bikes for a tour around the coast which was great and enabled us to see a lot of non coastal Mexico.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOH3Ut-_g6oJHb-0O16cCyRM6RST5-hTooZSy-PMstIcJRaQIOmaZJ07sNlZVQltKmxVpskIqPKT6NMD8mi7KUMa-oNyJuwXwbx469wEcihHv2O1ufa-5bagS3BcetJAYwzA7wII_utA/s1600/P1080768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOH3Ut-_g6oJHb-0O16cCyRM6RST5-hTooZSy-PMstIcJRaQIOmaZJ07sNlZVQltKmxVpskIqPKT6NMD8mi7KUMa-oNyJuwXwbx469wEcihHv2O1ufa-5bagS3BcetJAYwzA7wII_utA/s400/P1080768.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ride</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3tSk8OG5pcp7QiPy4UUADNufbZOKQLlYWH2mcOu_wX5WrkXY0jddMzwuuXGzFs6F1jLM9Rz-XlHNQMIdP1BlV2c9lQosvGZV-cYs_DXKgIiMT9a0MPlsivgvxjcTFxYZSmISeRS7aAA/s1600/P1080792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3tSk8OG5pcp7QiPy4UUADNufbZOKQLlYWH2mcOu_wX5WrkXY0jddMzwuuXGzFs6F1jLM9Rz-XlHNQMIdP1BlV2c9lQosvGZV-cYs_DXKgIiMT9a0MPlsivgvxjcTFxYZSmISeRS7aAA/s640/P1080792.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising down the coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqJ-YvM4A5Jaec8YpjS70ONuEOYtfo1V0AZL6OCGT5T8dhoSj2krkm9nqItRF8G_xpFE6fOdDH46_r3Ni7b_eMMc0rH_tp5cYOC0Z-m9JzOcCEFPDD8WgiL2mD-N7Byx0-o2F1nDHFD4/s1600/P1080780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqJ-YvM4A5Jaec8YpjS70ONuEOYtfo1V0AZL6OCGT5T8dhoSj2krkm9nqItRF8G_xpFE6fOdDH46_r3Ni7b_eMMc0rH_tp5cYOC0Z-m9JzOcCEFPDD8WgiL2mD-N7Byx0-o2F1nDHFD4/s640/P1080780.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping for lunch along the coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>A change of plans and a slight detour</b><br />
If you have been tracking our progress on the 'Where are we now page' of our blog you may have noticed that we are now in Acapulco. Puerto Vallarta is the main jump off point for cruisers heading across the Pacific and was the place we were planning to cross the pacific from. Our friends on Silver Lining were heading to the Caribbean and had been explaining to us the route and the great places to visit. When we went to Jamaica for Serena's 30th birthday while sitting at a restaurant overlooking the bay we had both said how amazing it would be to have our boat anchored in front of us and be cruising around the Caribbean. With the help of some subtle selling by Elan and Ashley on Silver Lining we decided to extend our trip and make a detour around the Caribbean before heading across the Pacific!<br />
<br />
<b>I'd rather be lucky than good</b><br />
Our next stop was Barra de Navidad which required us to go around the 'Dreaded Cabo Corrientas' which is known as the Cape Horn of Mexico. We've rounded a couple of these now and after talking to a number of cruisers and locals worked out the best time to go. We had a good forecast, but as we were leaving the harbor we had waves breaking across the entrance and 20 knot winds outside. We pushed on and things settled after a few hours giving us an uneventful, even calm rounding of the cape. We pushed on down the coast.<br />
<br />
We were lucky enough to then catch not one, but two Dorado! They are amazing eating and a welcome change to Bonito! They have an amazing color which changes once knocked out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkLMZV2mwSPxyS93eBwmH8ac2UujNoiGNgo1X0FqPGaGQvDcjHv6dnCdHaM6sGgnpVuX1fPuGt1xR9owXXnrCMF1biBLzxt2RL0wUrXvJu0oihjhFJo5HyIGPdgoLgxYLzibMJllZjro/s1600/P1080896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkLMZV2mwSPxyS93eBwmH8ac2UujNoiGNgo1X0FqPGaGQvDcjHv6dnCdHaM6sGgnpVuX1fPuGt1xR9owXXnrCMF1biBLzxt2RL0wUrXvJu0oihjhFJo5HyIGPdgoLgxYLzibMJllZjro/s640/P1080896.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Barra de Navidad</b><br />
We arrived at Barra in the afternoon and headed into a great lagoon which was at the end of the channel. It was full of boats and shallow so we had to explore for a while before finding a place to set the anchor. I'm glad our boat is the shallow keel version as the depth was 6 feet in most places and we finally anchored in 7 feet of water at low tide. We quickly called the local water taxi to pick us and the Silver Lining crew and headed into shore for an explore and dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMUfh_meGLyhd0qVe2tsTBQaibbaqGU3yDq1ikewLCVZmHPkHYEaCz4c520ukCbAIQZvKZ5xx-0ie5necW5pYnuyB3K8oFCdkTNr1-76Ci-IGPFTceICAxjv-96RZ8ugPTPE2Og3P5QU/s1600/P1080875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMUfh_meGLyhd0qVe2tsTBQaibbaqGU3yDq1ikewLCVZmHPkHYEaCz4c520ukCbAIQZvKZ5xx-0ie5necW5pYnuyB3K8oFCdkTNr1-76Ci-IGPFTceICAxjv-96RZ8ugPTPE2Og3P5QU/s640/P1080875.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We were lucky enough to have a live singer come to perform while we ate dinner who had a great sound and we spoke with him for quite a while as we were the only audience that night. We ended up buying 4 of his albums before heading off for another bar and calling the water taxi past midnight.<br />
<br />
<b>Isla Grande</b><br />
It must be said that we have been good at heading off on time the next morning regardless of the number of Margarita's consumed the night before and we hauled anchor at 8am as planned towards Isla Grande. We were sailing through the night when at around 2:30am after rounding the point, we encountered a traffic jam. We had 4 large cargo ships converge on our position, two from behind and two from ahead, which gave us hardly any maneuverability between them. I'm really glad i had recently hooked up our AIS ship tracking unit to the chart plotter as it provided all four ships exact position, speed and bearing. They were closing at 20 knots, but we were able to plot a path between all four, but with only a mile on each side of us! I'm really happy with the Raymarine E7 Chartplotter, Digital Radar and electronics we bought and it has really made navigating at night and in fog so much easier.<br />
<br />
After a long trip overnight i got woken to look at a boat that kept altering course towards us as we veered away. As i got up top they we hailing us and Serena passed the radio to me. It turned out to be the Navy asking us to stop the engines and prepare to be boarded for inspection.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnH4naM0VGPxbvrtB6N3FEZ1m49p-CF9ppYzZ5v5D3PR_FSyDuu8CiE5Jbj6icp3z_jzw5aSrnD_yqeiX3rUDWyb7gF1VI3w92tZY3DvuHXrV0IGtiwxXdVppSssgHlE2Yd95uhfIqqk/s1600/P1080927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnH4naM0VGPxbvrtB6N3FEZ1m49p-CF9ppYzZ5v5D3PR_FSyDuu8CiE5Jbj6icp3z_jzw5aSrnD_yqeiX3rUDWyb7gF1VI3w92tZY3DvuHXrV0IGtiwxXdVppSssgHlE2Yd95uhfIqqk/s640/P1080927.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
About ten troops pulled up and after circling the boat 3 times came alongside and came aboard. They all had machine guns and were wearing balaclavas. One guy stood on the bow, one in the cockpit guarding the crew and 5 guys came inside with me to complete the paperwork. After opening all the doors and cabinets in the boat they filled out some docs and we were free to go.<br />
<br />
We then passed 1,000's of Jelly fish who surrounded our boat. I'd hate to think how many there were, but we were driving through them for at least 15 minutes or more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhV5Phr2MLbwSdb2g2QYuPD5s1AbF_qr6BKdtCfBIvMXe2I7wLJI9A_bG8U9X9VcTOjw1mZiUZCg8IyiKaEHlQRsW44ZoLDX16HTf1ByWP7uYMchYnLN2VPi0HR8YS5_cjBsB1noYG1s/s1600/IMG_4075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhV5Phr2MLbwSdb2g2QYuPD5s1AbF_qr6BKdtCfBIvMXe2I7wLJI9A_bG8U9X9VcTOjw1mZiUZCg8IyiKaEHlQRsW44ZoLDX16HTf1ByWP7uYMchYnLN2VPi0HR8YS5_cjBsB1noYG1s/s640/IMG_4075.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWGMC6MTSsehgnGZVy-FtO3Y_Hp7bL6xAWwg211gi7JXFEBDbLulMtIay3HrL_nQ4oyJJZEqeRdgDYFqjjLVwpiEsq4PeRuEKbpFmQI-ya7LEHPBupWgUPn0dI31IXEjhDKol_SYnW6A/s1600/IMG_4104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWGMC6MTSsehgnGZVy-FtO3Y_Hp7bL6xAWwg211gi7JXFEBDbLulMtIay3HrL_nQ4oyJJZEqeRdgDYFqjjLVwpiEsq4PeRuEKbpFmQI-ya7LEHPBupWgUPn0dI31IXEjhDKol_SYnW6A/s640/IMG_4104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1093569003"></span><span id="goog_1093569004"></span><br />
<br />
We arrived at Isla Grande a couple of hours later and anchored in a small cove for the night.<br />
<br />
<b>Zihuatanejo</b><br />
We left Isla Grande early and headed to our next stop which was Zihuatanejo. This is one of the places where sailors get lost for a few years on their way south. It has a nice little bay that is quite picturesque and a great town to explore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxjU0bsrx2kFHjroU_lGdIe5zP6ShIMhNn1pNkOzY8H4WJLsmxb0nrjz8iiO2zwLfISgVmV_kLO5Kf9CuiSaPp5EjOEcNBzRag8SOMsSNYJ2zedMX6Q2i9IiKgmeq9K3cjfgdEoE4k0A/s1600/IMG_4270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxjU0bsrx2kFHjroU_lGdIe5zP6ShIMhNn1pNkOzY8H4WJLsmxb0nrjz8iiO2zwLfISgVmV_kLO5Kf9CuiSaPp5EjOEcNBzRag8SOMsSNYJ2zedMX6Q2i9IiKgmeq9K3cjfgdEoE4k0A/s640/IMG_4270.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Lining about to anchor at Zihuatanejo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We even came across the Neuvo Zealande Cafe (New Zealand Cafe in Spanish) which was closed and after speaking to the locals found out it hadn't been open for a couple of years :-( Really wanted to sample some cuisine from back home!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
We came back in the next day and upon return to the beach found that Silver Linings dinghy was deflated and looked like it had been slashed! One of the tube's was completely split along the length of it. Luckily we had our dinghy still on our boat with Katie and Lewis who had stayed behind. 15 minutes later they pulled up with our puncture repair kit and we got to work on the patch. We managed to seal it up and tow it back to the boat behind us.</div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NkAgT4ehWAlgExdiybjmmaij8OadiEUkR2xgJIy8UE53WH_l38IKBmgcbDRSxBUuPmGzYmxv86nl869kDDGoWJk9P3wCxzkrP_K0OXtnLr8ETchfe3YWUlmkCelPDcv-s2soC3nW8lk/s1600/IMG_4293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NkAgT4ehWAlgExdiybjmmaij8OadiEUkR2xgJIy8UE53WH_l38IKBmgcbDRSxBUuPmGzYmxv86nl869kDDGoWJk9P3wCxzkrP_K0OXtnLr8ETchfe3YWUlmkCelPDcv-s2soC3nW8lk/s640/IMG_4293.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towing the patched dinghy back to Silver Lining</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-36610026984413241682012-04-22T15:40:00.001-07:002012-04-22T15:40:32.750-07:00View from my office in Acapulco<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGj3yiqW-buijCVTm0BHWiR1FYMMbdzdqkejGYpi4aONLNiY6c5FMygDtgoxT-hGVBteZC3_lV1XrQxGg-1rsqPnvj7ab6KZsZZ_eL0CnpzIXKEj8ewh-3fwt0Xh7ilhQyzO-bzBPmb4/s640/blogger-image-1062405115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGj3yiqW-buijCVTm0BHWiR1FYMMbdzdqkejGYpi4aONLNiY6c5FMygDtgoxT-hGVBteZC3_lV1XrQxGg-1rsqPnvj7ab6KZsZZ_eL0CnpzIXKEj8ewh-3fwt0Xh7ilhQyzO-bzBPmb4/s640/blogger-image-1062405115.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-31397396082405093762012-04-09T17:49:00.001-07:002012-04-09T17:49:07.200-07:00Classic rock night at Ana banana in la CruzArrived this afternoon in Le Cruz and turned up at the local cruiser bar in Le Cruz and joined a table of cruisers to swap war stories. We had our local expert Zeehag (who's famous on the cruisers forum) who met us at the fuel dock and showed us around. <br />
<br />
The band is amazing and playing some great tunes. Think it will be a late one! <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80XMbPSYQNfZGR2Wik22NSTiIR3_oVemfsKA5U1fPXa9AR80VRTGXhUEB-k0QYis2gF8vC22TTBhnVwghQib1gaMpA0chY4EnrR7Y-0Lo1mMRVg6zZScH9i092rCDYrnNnXpvEWvEsic/s640/blogger-image--1529290766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80XMbPSYQNfZGR2Wik22NSTiIR3_oVemfsKA5U1fPXa9AR80VRTGXhUEB-k0QYis2gF8vC22TTBhnVwghQib1gaMpA0chY4EnrR7Y-0Lo1mMRVg6zZScH9i092rCDYrnNnXpvEWvEsic/s640/blogger-image--1529290766.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-52143662853527385622012-04-08T13:22:00.001-07:002012-04-22T10:55:11.205-07:00Arrived in Chicala after an over night sail from Mazatlan.Sitting on the beach having lunch and just purchased some donkey milk soap! Had a good night sail last night with calm seas which is nice. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjFPKaDT5JJNUzK3VNDd9Q9QpQMf_aU6HDMOGeXMuuByV6PvPY2tziVd-6X4scIggNVeEgMY-yCwe099fCpFe41f2CgqWSG4_Z6AfMidSE-Ogopr2mi1xElcnCBGKWJm4ohqpjVD183E/s640/blogger-image--1834378041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjFPKaDT5JJNUzK3VNDd9Q9QpQMf_aU6HDMOGeXMuuByV6PvPY2tziVd-6X4scIggNVeEgMY-yCwe099fCpFe41f2CgqWSG4_Z6AfMidSE-Ogopr2mi1xElcnCBGKWJm4ohqpjVD183E/s640/blogger-image--1834378041.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Chacala is a great stop and had a great bay to anchor in and rest.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PT9EvKdMo0rYc14F6s9PpMukMb948BS-oDQh0Roc3_Uk-y_iVEeRUZJlbMs8JreVnKaavhKuiZP7-H8FEOLk8-Ai5Ud22r1h8rXcvFqepNSlDXU9V-NnOrnZyUXK6fi71BmNTrL_5do/s1600/P1080707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PT9EvKdMo0rYc14F6s9PpMukMb948BS-oDQh0Roc3_Uk-y_iVEeRUZJlbMs8JreVnKaavhKuiZP7-H8FEOLk8-Ai5Ud22r1h8rXcvFqepNSlDXU9V-NnOrnZyUXK6fi71BmNTrL_5do/s640/P1080707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking to ensure the dinghy was still there when we got back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAOmTMWgFSElwLjTXiAfO3HrHHznTzQoY8_lkpREatCKz480mPJn5OzqZR-RvgFuo7cDBAS6mC0AT2dNoy5FvXtrO-f-dpJWRhAHOXeN1uhn6RsBx-HUwhWLZBLKc0mwECqVxRzTEkzE/s1600/P1080708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAOmTMWgFSElwLjTXiAfO3HrHHznTzQoY8_lkpREatCKz480mPJn5OzqZR-RvgFuo7cDBAS6mC0AT2dNoy5FvXtrO-f-dpJWRhAHOXeN1uhn6RsBx-HUwhWLZBLKc0mwECqVxRzTEkzE/s640/P1080708.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Chacala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6XDtIi8cJ-NpLtcY1TdpGG8JZ95A-IXZrldkmSCYhQvOq5wpa3zBENdQPnufdzcJ6dT_F0Wghh_ScQgrf3UQnTWsqBIPcQDREQrD8shg43B-RRWjsOSqyb_a4vObZ0-vreflnlAl7Us/s1600/P1080715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6XDtIi8cJ-NpLtcY1TdpGG8JZ95A-IXZrldkmSCYhQvOq5wpa3zBENdQPnufdzcJ6dT_F0Wghh_ScQgrf3UQnTWsqBIPcQDREQrD8shg43B-RRWjsOSqyb_a4vObZ0-vreflnlAl7Us/s640/P1080715.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing the shallow rocks with paddle power</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603415175964595981.post-38453812106512121912012-04-06T15:24:00.001-07:002012-04-06T15:24:44.470-07:00Good Friday in Mazatlan<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94GJNbLOgolLqY73i9-WfNmzQFvtz_qmuTKIi1thU8sgl_xeoERGGTd1sB4lCzgFpNP1d4TxhgLWJ0HVmSi2M6SVPZKBuQ5k8fJGZvnQOhQ_YFb1GSpo-lz8LaazW9GUNlgan9Xu99SM/s640/blogger-image-1430076471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94GJNbLOgolLqY73i9-WfNmzQFvtz_qmuTKIi1thU8sgl_xeoERGGTd1sB4lCzgFpNP1d4TxhgLWJ0HVmSi2M6SVPZKBuQ5k8fJGZvnQOhQ_YFb1GSpo-lz8LaazW9GUNlgan9Xu99SM/s640/blogger-image-1430076471.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxkqKvhoFX90d8otNqb-teIm0zBNRnGnnyVnhjyb_eN43t7q6qs0PERAmSat3t4JVwOx3AB2QvBQ5wFPNLq_hMLv7F16XKKfWBeRyb_zWG-U7CheStcqx_tWM-1_VfPmUPZJarhkx1yo/s640/blogger-image-587834446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxkqKvhoFX90d8otNqb-teIm0zBNRnGnnyVnhjyb_eN43t7q6qs0PERAmSat3t4JVwOx3AB2QvBQ5wFPNLq_hMLv7F16XKKfWBeRyb_zWG-U7CheStcqx_tWM-1_VfPmUPZJarhkx1yo/s640/blogger-image-587834446.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdaqwcgAoKn4xBE7-XjIznpMXIOyTnx2TiiUxZ_BQlWYBGm5fBceAToJ_gMV_r4nFz1Lp7x6Yjt_aVBJeX6G2ZTzi_9X9E4XZff4U_6WPOMoocs6ld_X6wlVL15an7StAyyu7pT9Alg8/s640/blogger-image-1598207750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdaqwcgAoKn4xBE7-XjIznpMXIOyTnx2TiiUxZ_BQlWYBGm5fBceAToJ_gMV_r4nFz1Lp7x6Yjt_aVBJeX6G2ZTzi_9X9E4XZff4U_6WPOMoocs6ld_X6wlVL15an7StAyyu7pT9Alg8/s640/blogger-image-1598207750.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wCEc98_p9gVezbWLPmLtu9JWR6j7VEL4KFASMuGg30qViSBBzXrpSCkGgj1kooolzQ2s4_-D0KHmXpc3ER-qyMEORKEEss66p5NN7Fq7CfVL3xGJj-R7LsA3aRjQkzm07sW94PmcQHU/s640/blogger-image-127192903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wCEc98_p9gVezbWLPmLtu9JWR6j7VEL4KFASMuGg30qViSBBzXrpSCkGgj1kooolzQ2s4_-D0KHmXpc3ER-qyMEORKEEss66p5NN7Fq7CfVL3xGJj-R7LsA3aRjQkzm07sW94PmcQHU/s640/blogger-image-127192903.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725921094172677830noreply@blogger.com3